Artist Norton Bush (1834 – 1894) Oil on Board

Oil painting on rough board depicts a Peruvian man in a red jacket with fur lined boots on the edge of a very high cliff behind three resting llamas, an image of the Andes snow top mountains is painted in the background. Signed "NBush" (Norton Bush, AMERICAN, 1834 - 1894) lower right.
Norton Bush was born in Rochester NY in 1834, he studied under the Hudson River Artists Jasper Cropsey and James Harris, Frederic Church, another Hudson artist encouraged Bush to travel to South America which he did in 1853 soon landing the round about way in San Francisco, CA. He made several trips to South America over the course of the next 20 years and was hired by the South American railroad builder Henry Meiggs to travel the rail rout through Peru in 1873 to paint scenes along the way. He returned to CA in the late 1870s and remained as an art teacher until his death in 1894.

This image appears to be a quick rough sketch of perhaps his guide along the exhibition though it lacks Bush's finesse with tropical scenes there is still an element of his ability to capture the essence of the moment, there is especially great detail given to the animals in the picture.

Housed in a simple wood frame with light gold gilt back does show some very faded letters and a number in block print under the black paint we can make out what appears to be "NO" and below that a "9"

Circa 1873-1885

Measures 10" x 16" image, frame 14" x 19"

Lower Right Signed "NBUSH"

Condition: Overall Fine the oil was done on rough board so there are some splits to the board as visible in images, frame shows age wear

* Note this painting was purchased from an estate in Rochester NY at least 20 years ago, the painting once had a very old paper label stuck to the back that was hand written and read "View of Quito" the paper has long since lost its way off the back of the painting