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Listed Canadian Artist: 1871-1951,
Known As: Saskatchewan's first generation pre-eminent artist.
Signature: Signed J Henderson, lower right.
Title: Autumn in "Qu'Appelle Valley,
Saskatchewan, 1935", painted at the height of his career as a painter of western settings.
Sight Size: h: 12 in. by w: 16 in., Oil on Canvas.
Condition: Bright and recently given a light cleaning and has been varnished. The canvas is tight and flat with all its tightening pegs in the original strecher.
Original Hand Carved and Gilded Frame: h:18 in. x w:22 in x d:2.5 in., with an inner 1in. slip frame. It does possess the odd spot of missing gold gilding 'here and there', but it is quite aceptable and barely noticeable on a frame of this stature and vintage. Where the gold is missing, you see its 'red bole' foundation base. The frame also has 1/4 in. epoxied on felt wall pads.
Association Memberships: The Onario Society of Artists, (OSA), James Henedrson also exhibited with the R.C.A., the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts for a number of years during his painting career.
James Henderson, Autumn in the Qu'Appelle Valley
A Note of Interest: This early James Henderson painting is accompanied by what honestly appears to be its original 'uniquely fabulous' heavily carved and gilded handcrafted frame, with each section having a width of 3.12 in. by a depth of 2.25 in..This is an increasingly rare and desirable feature for quality works of the early 20th century. Over the decades, many paintings from this era were routinely reframed to suit changing tastes and more modern interiors, making survival of these original presentation frames far less common today.
The presence of this richly detailed frame offers a special opportunity to experience the work in a manner much closer to how it would have originally been displayed. Its ornate carving and warm gilded finish complement the period character of this attractive Henderson painting, while adding depth, elegance, and an air of genuine authenticity.
For collectors of 20th century vintage Canadian art, finding an early James Henderson painting still housed in such a substantial period frame is an uncommon and appealing circumstance—one that enhances both the historical charm and presentation of this uniquely framed vintage artwork.
James Henderson was a pioneering artist in the province of Saskatchewan, Canada, widely recognized for his dignified portraits of some important Indigenous leaders of the day and his evocative landscapes of the Qu’Appelle Valley. Born in Glasgow, Scotland, he trained as a lithographer and attended evening classes at the Glasgow School of Art. After working in London as an engraver and lithographer, he immigrated to Canada in 1909 at the age of 38, first settling in Winnipeg before moving to Regina in 1910 and later making his permanent home in Fort Qu’Appelle in 1916.
Henderson quickly gained national and international acclaim for his portraiture, capturing the strength and character of Cree, Sioux, Saulteaux, and Assiniboine leaders, including a noted portraits of Sitting Bull, Chief Crowfoot, and Standing Buffalo. His works, exhibited in Canada and abroad, serve as an invaluable historical record of Prairie Indigenous cultures. In recognition of his contributions, he was commissioned by the University of Saskatchewan to paint twelve portraits representing the Indigenous tribes of Saskatchewan and Alberta.
Beyond portraiture, Henderson is perhaps most beloved for his landscapes. Deeply inspired by the beauty of the Qu’Appelle Valley, he built a home and studio there, where he painted the region’s rolling hills, lakes, and shifting seasons with a masterful impressionistic touch. He also traveled extensively, painting scenes in Alberta, British Columbia, and Ontario’s Muskoka region.
Throughout his career, Henderson exhibited widely, including at the National Gallery of Canada, the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, and various provincial galleries. A member of the Ontario Society of Artists, he also exhibited with the Royal Canadian Academy. In 1951, he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the University of Saskatchewan. One of his greatest honors came when he was made an Honorary Chief by the Standing Buffalo Reserve, receiving the name Wicite Owapi Wicasa, “the man who paints the old men”.
Today, James Henderson is recognized as one of Saskatchewan's first generation artists and his paintings are held in major art collections across Canada, including the National Gallery of Canada, the Glenbow Museum, and the Art Gallery of Alberta. In 2009, the Mendel Art Gallery honored his legacy with a retrospective, reaffirming his place as a defining figure in early 20th century Canadian art.
James Alexander Henderson, Saskatchewan's first generation pre-eminent artist passed away at the age of 80 in 1951.
Painting Ref No: 10OBE25HND-S/ROEEX
James Henderson, Autumn in the Qu'Appelle Valley
Updated June 16, 2026 |
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