Meyer Straus (American, 1831-1905), "Louisiana Landscape", oil on canvas, signed and dated "M. Straus 1892" lower right, 22 in. X 36 in , framed. E70000-100000 Note: Born in Bavaria in 1831, Straus emigrated to the United States in 1848. He lived in Ohio, then in St Louis, Missouri where he obtained s employment as a scene painter in the Old Pine Street Theater. In the years surrounding the Civil War, Strauss obtained work in Mobile, New Orleans, and other parts of the South. In 1875 Straus moved west to San Francisco where he painted for Tom Maguire, proprietor of the Bush Street Theater and the Grand Opera House. In 1876 Straus traveled to Aspen, Colorado to explore and paint the landscape. On returning to San Francisco in 1877 he abandoned theater work to devote himself to easel painting. After establishing a studio San Francisco, Straus made excursions into Yosemite, Marin County, the Monterey Peninsula, and Oregon for au plein aire work which was often published in "Century" and other national magazines. Straus maintained his connections to art patrons in New Orleans. His paintings continued to be sold at New Orleans auctions in the 1890's and he received an honorable mention in the New Orleans Exposition of 1885. Known primarily as a landscape painter, Straus' body of work also includes still lifes of fruit and flowers, architecture, figural and interior studies. The landscape featured here is indicative of Straus' mature style with a concentration on au plein aire effects. The broad, confident brushwork adopted by Straus shows an interest in the effects of light on the surfaces of the foliage and other objects in the scene. Straus uses a variety of rich natural color and a dramatic contrast of light and shadow to capture the intensely tropical atmosphere of the Louisiana landscape. Straus died in San Francisco on March 11, 1905 at his home at 1604 Steiner Street. Reference: see Historic New Orleans Collection Encyclopedia of New Orleans Artists, p. 366; Falk, Who Was Who in American Art, p. 3200.