George Rodrigue (American/Louisiana, 1944-2013), "Louisiana Bayou with Bridge" and "Louisiana Bayou with Cabin", 1970, 2 oils on canvas, each signed lower left, signed, dated and artist stamps en verso, both 8 in. x 10 in., framed alike in original artist frames. (2 pcs.) . Provenance: Commissioned from the artist, 1970. Note: George Rodrigue’s earliest landscapes in the late 1960s often included additional elements such as cabins and small figures. As he worked to refine his unique vision of Louisiana, he most often abandoned these components in favor of the oak tree alone. The silhouetted oak tree in the background, cropped at the top, and a rich, dark foreground dominated his compositions. As he began to develop local supporters, Rodrigue was introduced to the famous Louisiana architect, A. Hays Town, in the late 1960s, and his advice to the young artist transformed Rodrigue’s approach. Town told him to “treat each painting like a jewel, because if it is precious to you, it will be precious to others as well.” Commissioned in 1970, this rare, early pair of landscapes featuring a cabin and bridge exemplifies Rodrigue’s care and ever-increasing success following this sage advice. At the same time, Rodrigue began to receive critical acclaim for his work. The Louisiana State Art Commission sponsored a Rodrigue exhibition at the Louisiana State Museum in the Old State Capitol in Baton Rouge in 1970, featuring seventy oak tree paintings. His work was also featured in an exhibition at the Beaumont Art Museum, now the Museum of Southeast Texas, which opened to glowing reviews in August of 1971.
Ref.: Rodrigue, Wendy. “Remembering Lafayette’s Advocates for the Arts, Circa 1969.” Musings of an Artist’s Wife. June 22, 2010. www.wendyrodrigue.com. Accessed May 19, 2019.