William Henry Buck (Norwegian/New Orleans, 1840-1888), "Cows Grazing under the Live Oak, Louisiana Bayou", oil on board, signed and dated "'84" lower right, 6 in. x 12 in.5in., in a period giltwood frame. E30000-50000 Provenance: Acquired in 1970, from a Massachusetts estate to the present collector. Note: William Henry Buck studied painting with Richard Clague and adopted the aesthetic and philosophy of the Louisiana Landscape Movement founded by his teacher in the 1880's. Influenced by the French Barbizon School, these Louisiana artists faithfully sketched and painted the local landscape. Buck paintings embody his sensitivity to the natural topography and unique beauty of the bayous and swamps of southern Louisiana. Buck often included signs of the hardy settlers living amidst the untarnished bayous and swamps. In the large painting "Louisiana Landscape" (lot no 423), Buck subtly included a lone rustic wood pier on the edge of the water surrounded by moss draped live oak trees and palmettos of the bayou. A herd of cows from a neighboring farm are seeking shade from the harsh summer sun in "Cows Grazing Under the Live Oak, Louisiana Bayou" (lot no. 407) These two paintings represent canvas sizes favored by Buck. The larger painting "Louisiana Landscape" was most likely painted with the intention of exhibiting in the popular New Orleans galleries of the day such as S.E. Seebold's and Wagner's. "Louisiana Cows" is an intimate painting in a small rectangular format that Buck found very appealing. There are several of Buck's paintings in the collection of the Louisiana State Museum in this similar size and format.