The Evening Hymn

Mason's reputation centers on three paintings, "The Evening Hymn," "A Pastoral Symphony" (Private collection), and "The Harvest Moon" (Tate, London). The first was exhibited at the Royal Academy of Arts in London in 1868, once owned by Percy Wyndham MP (1835–1911), and remains untraced. It depicts a group of girls singing after an evening religious service. Waltner's etching was heralded as a triumph on publication in 1882 and applauded by critics. The Liverpool Mercury thought the subject "very poetical...translated with much feeling." The Manchester Courier admired the "great delicacy and truth" of the print despite the difficulties presented by the evening light behind the figures. Staffordshire-born Mason was also mentioned in local newspapers and the Staffordshire Advertiser admired the "well-known picture of Staffordshire girls singing on their return from chapel." Waltner had etched other work after Mason, including "Young Anglers" in 1881.