A long lost painting by Canadian impressionist painter Helen McNicoll has been found and authenticated in the U.K. by the expert team of the BBC television show “Fake or Fortune?”
The series is known for investigating the stories behind rare and extraordinary paintings, and on Thursday’s episode it focused on a lost piece by McNicoll, a deaf, 20th century painter from Toronto, and one of the country’s most renowned artists.
She died at the age of 35 in 1915, shortly after her now resurfaced painting went missing, following a string of showings in art galleries across Canada in 1912 and 1913, the BBC reported.
Her now rediscovered piece, entitled “The Bean Harvest,” depicts women working in a field, and was painted in the early 20th century. However, its whereabouts remained unknown for more than 100 years.
It wasn’t until British artist, David Taylor, unknowingly bought the missing piece at a regional auction in the north of England for just over £2,000, ($3563.27 CAD) that the painting was found.
Taylor told the BBC he had a hunch it was a special piece of artwork when he took it out of its frame and discovered McNicoll’s signature.
He also told the British news outlet that he had not heard of McNicoll until he purchased the painting, but said “It looked like it had been painted by someone who really [knew] what they’re doing…what a pioneer she was – a woman at that time, the early 20th Century, travelling abroad with her easel while profoundly deaf,” Taylor continued.
On Thursday’s episode of “Fake or Fortune?” its hosts, Journalist Fiona Bruce and art dealer Philip Mould, alongside the show’s team of expert appraisers, helped Taylor authenticate the piece, valuing it at £300,000, which equates to over half a million Canadian dollars, the BBC reported.
The BBC says the painting is currently being stored in a gallery, and that Taylor has plans to one day sell it at an auction.
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