William Henry Buck (Norwegian/Louisiana, 1840)

William Henry Buck (Norwegian/Louisiana, 1840-1888), "Jackson Square, New Orleans", oil on board, signed and inscribed "Sketch by Buck. N.O." lower right, 9 in. x 12 in., framed, overall 13 in. x 15 7/8 in. x 2 1/4 in. Note: William Henry Buck emigrated from Norway to the United State around 1865. He arrived in New Orleans circa 1870 where he worked as a clerk for a cotton factory. During the late 1870s and early 1880s, Buck studied with Richard Clague and was one of his closest followers. By 1880, Buck had opened his own studio at 26 Carondelet Street in New Orleans, where he was instrumental in defining the easel-sized painting market. Buck created the most expansive known body of work in the nineteenth century portraying the rivers, lakes, bayous and environs of New Orleans and its surrounding areas. His passion for capturing the Louisiana landscape is evident in the exquisite and subtle luminosity and carefully composed compositions of his works. While his rural bayou landscapes are perhaps his best known, a handful of urban scenes of New Orleans also appear in the artist’s oeuvre though very rarely do they surface at auction. This recently discovered work is the only known painting by Buck of New Orleans’ most famous landmark setting. Buck’s take on the iconic scene is a charming, light-filled composition with a slightly skewed perspective and hints of the famous bayou painter’s classic style. The blue sky with puffy clouds, the delicate brushwork of the foliage and the detail of the architecture present a scene as detailed as it is timeless. The path in the garden invites the viewer into the square, where the statue of Andrew Jackson, erected in 1856 and silhouetted against the backdrop of St. Louis Cathedral, takes center stage in place of the artist’s characteristic moss-draped oak. As beautiful as it is historic, this painting places Buck at the very heart of not only the Louisiana bayou but also the ever-changing city he called home, portraying a unique glimpse of life in New Orleans during an exciting period of growth and transformation.Ref.: Lewis, Richard Anthony. “William Henry Buck.” 64 Parishes. www.64parishes.org. Accessed Mar. 9, 2023; Wiesendanger, Martin and Margaret. 19th Century Louisiana Paintings from the Collection of W.E. Groves. Gretna, LA: Pelican Publishing Company, 1971.
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