Titled "The Courageous Bather" 1916. This piece is an oil on board and was purchased at Doyle's Auction in 1987. Frame work by Diego Salazar. Painting is in excellent condition overall, with a slight crack in paint above the horizon line on the left. Born in New York City, Howard Russell Butler graduated from law school but was unhappy with that career and turned to the development of his painting talents. In 1884, he and Frederick E Church opened a studio in Mexico. He then studied at the Art Students League, and was also in Paris where he became active in the American artist colony. Focusing primarily on color and light, he painted in the French countryside in loose, impressionistic style, and one of his painting companions was John Singer Sargent. By 1886, he was receiving honorable mention at the Paris Salon. He later did paintings of the California Coast and Mojave Desert while living in California as well as watercolor sketches of Yellowstone. As part of his career, he later became supervisor of astronomy exhibits at the American Museum of Natural History and subsequently painted solar eclipses. Overall size: 14 1/4 x 18 1/4 in. Size: 10 x 14 in. Please note that all sales are final. No refunds will be given under any circumstances.