Robert Butler (Florida, 1943-2014) Highwaymen landscape painting depicting a crane in a swamp scene in the Florida Everglades, set against a late afternoon sky. Signed and dated "Robert Butler 85" lower right. Housed in a wooden frame with gilt trim, an off white linen liner, and a giltwood fillet with a metal picture light affixed en verso of frame, top center. Sight: 35 1/2" H x 23 1/2" W. Framed: 41 3/4" H x 29 3/4" W x 7 1/2" D. Biography: "Butler was born in the small timber and farming community of Baxley, Georgia, on September 25, 1943. Raised by his mother, Annie Talifer Butler, Butler considered his upbringing as "classically American." In 1947, Butler moved to Okeechobee, Florida, where he later became familiar with the woods and waters of the Florida Everglades, and especially Lake Okeechobee, that feature prominently in his paintings. His professional career began in 1968 and he often sold his paintings door-to-door or on the roadside. The term "Highwayman" which Butler helped to coin for his category of artist was given due to their method of producing paintings and then traveling along the highways of Florida to sell the paintings for a living. Butler was named a Knight by a member of the Royal Family of Ethiopia, namely Prince Ermias Sahle Selassie. The Imperial Order of the Star of Honor of the Ethiopian Empire, the order to which Butler was inducted, was created to honor both domestic and foreign individuals who had given exemplary service to the Ethiopian Empire. Sometime in his 40s Butler was diagnosed with diabetes; a disease which eventually contributed to his death while living at a nursing home in Lakeland, Florida. Butler died on March 19, 2014 at the age of 70." (source: Robert Butler: TheHighwaymenTrail.com, and his obituaries in the Tampa Bay Times, published March 19, 2014, and the South Florida Sun Sentinel, published March 21, 2014).

PROVENANCE: Private Bristol, Tennessee collection.

CONDITION: Overall very good condition. Minute area of fluorescence in lower right corner, approximately 1/4" dia, visible under UV light inspection.