Painting ID from Noonan-Kocian Gallery in St. Louis, MO ~1930

I'd appreciate anyone's help. I am trying to ID this painting. It was purchased at the Noonan-Kocian Gallery in STL in the early 1930s. It is (as far as I can see with out removing the frame) unsigned. It is painted on canvas board in oil (I think). There are markings on the back. The most legible is "No. 37 Evening." Also, it is marked "No. 39." There are other markings I can not make out (7^/lp ... ?). There is a portion of the gallery seal left on the top.

 

Please post an in focus, close-up photograph of the gallery seal.

Debora

 

And I've taken the liberty of reposting your photograph as Full Image so it's easier for everyone to see.

Debora

 

Are you sure of your date? That doesn't look like a 1930s frame. (Of course, it may have been an older painting at the time.)

Debora

 

Welcome to the Forum, @Passable!

When you upload photos, just tic the First box for all Full Images, it is set to a default thumbnail.

 

I agree that it looks older than the '30s.

Here's an article on the gallery:
https://nextstl.com/2013/05/when-th...he-noonan-kocian-art-company-at-tenth-locust/

From that article:
The Noonan-Kocian Art Company had formed in 1893 at 1002 Olive—currently the site of Jack Patrick’s Bar and Grill—before moving in 1897 to a space at 617 Locust. During those years, the art scene thrived. The 1899 volume St. Louis: Queen of the West described the “art trade” at that time as of “constantly increasing importance” in the city and singled out one dealer as of “enviable reputation”…the firm of Noonan and Kocian. “Here is shown a large stock of fine paintings, water colors, etchings, engravings, plaster casts, Copley prints, etc…In their galleries are to be found examples of the best modern art.”

 

It may have been sold the first time in the 1890s, and then resold in the 30s.

 

I took a small rectangular section of the very BOTTOM LOWER LEFT section of the painting, enlarged and lightened it up significantly.....what I'm seeing is what I think COULD BE a "potential" signature.....but you would want to have it probably professionally checked unless you're really good with magnification and slight cleaning with spittle & a q-tip....and you'd want to be really sure it was OIL as well so as not to do any harm to the image or if it actually IS a signature!!!! To me it looks like the first name could "possibly" be Robert....But I'm unsure of that.......wish I could make it clearer, but that's the best I could do!!
OH, AND I FORGOT....WELCOME to ANTIQUERS, @Passable!!!

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Thanks everyone for the posts. Yes, I imagine you are right....The picture was given to my grandparents for their wedding around 1930. Given the subject matter, probably painted much earlier. I've also attached a partial picture of the gallery seal...It was definitely Noonan-Kocian, as I have seen other complete ones and my grandparents live in St. Louis. Also, I am attaching a full picture of the back. There are other markings and numbers. Thanks again for all the help.

 

Have you removed it from the frame to see if there's a signature? Won't do it any harm.

Debora

 

What does the stamp in the middle say? That could help you date the canvas.

 

Part of the words on the back is PATD - (patented.) Wonder if that is for the board itself or the art work?

 

It also says RUSSELLS - the maker of the board?

 

A close up photo of the lower corners of the painting would be good too, in case there is writing. You can get the camera to focus by placing a small piece of dark paper next to what you want to take a picture of.