Washington Girard (Tennessee, 1873-1931) oil on board landscape painting depicting a grove of beech trees with early autumn foliage along a gently flowing creek. Signed "W. Girard" lower left. Housed in molded gilt frame with tan linen rabbet edge. Sight – 11 1/2" H x 8 1/2" W. Framed – 17 1/4" H x 14 1/4" W. Provenance: the estate of Delle Brown, Nashville, TN. Delle Brown and her late husband Malvern Brown were, for many years, the proprietors of Trace Tavern Antiques. Biography: William Washington "Wash" Girard was born on Sycamore Creek in Cheatham County, Tenn. and after high school traveled to New York to study under marine painter Edward Moran. Following the death of his girlfriend, he returned to Nashville, where he continued painting and was a prolific writer. His paintings of beech trees, his favorite theme, were often small and painted on Sycamore Creek or Brown's Creek in the Nashville area. (source: Weesner, "William Washington Girard", Tennessee Historical Quarterly, Spring, 1986). CONDITION: Overall good condition with craquelure. Areas of flaking and losses, largest 2", to gilt on frame.