Albert Ernest "Beanie" Backus (American/Florida, 1906-1990), "Windy Day", oil on canvas, signed lower right, signed, titled and inscribed en verso, 30 in. x 36 in., framed, overall 39 1/8 in. x 45 1/8 in. x 2 in. Note: Albert Ernest “Beanie” Backus was a painter born in Fort Pierce, Florida in 1906. Though largely self-taught, he took summer classes at the Parsons School of Design in New York City from 1924 to 1925. Before selling his landscapes, he made money through commercial sign painting. His lifelong passions for plants and wildlife allowed him to render Florida seascapes with impeccable detail. Though Backus was not one of the famed Florida Highwaymen, they were influenced by his work. His skill in depicting the Florida landscape is on display in the lot offered here entitled “Windy Days.” The bend of the tree trunks and fluttering fronds come alive under the Florida sun as the viewer can almost smell the sea air and feel the warm breeze. Ref.: “A. E. Backus.” The Highwaymen. www.floridahighwaymenpaintings.com. Accessed July 26, 2023; “A. E. ‘Bean’ Backus.” Florida Arts & Culture. https://dos.myflorida.com. Accessed July 26, 2023.