Large Helen La France (Kentucky, 1919-2020) oil on canvas landscape painting depicting an African American church community gathering for a Decoration Day or Memorial Day picnic celebration. The scene features automobiles parked in front of the church with two horse-drawn vehicles approaching lower left; the church features graves marked with wreaths, with a field and hills visible beyond. Ladies set out food on a large white-covered table, while parishioners visit with each other and little girls play a circle game in the foreground. Signed lower right.

Note: This is the largest Helen LaFrance "Church Picnic" painting Case has ever offered, with the canvas measuring 60 in. W x 30 in. H and the frame, 64 in. W x 34 in. H. The sizeable canvas afforded LaFrance the opportunity to include elements  not commonly found in most of her other church picnic scenes, including more than 150 figures, the expanded treatment of the golden crops and green hills of the land beyond the churchyard, the use of linear perspective on the church itself, a second horse-drawn vehicle (most of her church picnic scenes only include one), a man with a horse (background, left), and the possibly unique inclusion of a school bus. 

Biography: “Self-taught African American artist Helen LaFrance was born on a Kentucky farm and began painting in her 40s. She is known for her “memory paintings” drawn from her recollections of life growing up in the rural South. Several museums and private collectors, including Oprah Winfrey, own examples of her work.” (Source: “Helen LaFrance Folk Art Memories” by Kathy Moses). Helen LaFrance died November 22, 2020 in a Mayfield, Kentucky nursing home at the age of 101.

Excellent condition. 

Private Middle Tennessee collection, purchased circa 1995 from Shelton Gallery, Nashville.