Lot 169: Kathleen Moir Morris 1893 - 1986 Canadian oil on

Kathleen Moir Morris 1893 - 1986 Canadian oil on board Church in the Country, Ottawa 10 1/8 x 13 3/4 inches 25.7 x 34.9 centimeters signed and on verso titled indistinctly and inscribed ""172 O'Connor"" on a partial Art Association of Montreal label and ""$50.00"" / ""386"" / ""153"" Provenance:Private Collection, Vancouver After the official break-up of the Beaver Hall Group in Montreal in 1922, Kathleen Morris moved to Ottawa in 1923, living at 172 O'Connor Street, as the inscription on verso confirms. She lived there with her mother until 1929, and while there her artistic career was encouraged by the National Gallery of Canada's director Eric Brown; he ensured that the gallery acquired one of her works. While in Ottawa she painted street scenes, often of its vital marketplace and churches. In the winter she took sketching trips to Quebec City, the Laurentians or Berthierville, and in summer to the country surrounding Ottawa, as seen in this charming depiction of a country church. Typical of her style, this work is defined with bold brush-strokes and vibrant colour. The warm atmosphere of this unpretentious and peaceful place of worship with its distinctive spire, together with the radiance of a summer's day, make this an alluring image.