Title: Impressionist Depiction of Brown Cows in a Field Grazing Beside a Pond and Lush Green Foliage

Artist: Charles Franklin Pierce

Date: 1844-1920

Medium: Oil on canvas

Dimensions: Canvas 18" x 24", Frame 30 1/4" x 36 1/2"

Condition Report: Light craquelure, no signs of chipping or scuffing. Frame with light surface wear and areas of minor loss. Overall in good condition and displays beautifully.

Provenance: From a collection of fine art offered in this auction from a large Massachusetts estate.

Notes: Signed "C. F. Pierce" in the right corner.

Description: This painting by Charles Franklin Pierce is an impressionist depiction of brown cows grazing in a field beside a pond, surrounded by lush green foliage. Pierce, who attended art school in Boston, often took trips to England, Scotland, and Wales to sketch and paint the countryside. This painting reflects his deep connection to pastoral scenes, likely influenced by his early years working on his family's farm in Peterborough, New Hampshire.

Biography of Charles Franklin Pierce:

Charles Franklin Pierce was born on April 26, 1844, in Sharon, New Hampshire, to John A. and Phila W. Pierce. He was the third of six children raised in the rural community of Peterborough. Pierce's early life on the family farm, surrounded by livestock, greatly influenced his artistic subjects, with cows being one of his favorite themes.

In the early 1860s, Pierce's creative talents began to emerge. Seeking an outlet beyond farm work, he moved to Boston in 1864 to attend art school. He developed his skills and, in the latter 1860s, traveled to England, Scotland, and Wales to sketch the countryside, marking his first of two extended stays in Europe.

By the early 1870s, Pierce had returned to Boston, where he became a leader in the Boston Art Club. During the centennial celebration of America's founding, he married Luena Wilder, a fellow artist from Peterborough. The couple spent over a year touring and painting in Europe during the late 1870s before returning to continue their work in Boston and Peterborough. After 30 years of marriage, Luena passed away in 1906.

Pierce continued to paint and, in 1912, married Sarah Katherine Plimpton of Massachusetts. They lived between Peterborough and Brookline, Massachusetts. Charles Franklin Pierce passed away on March 5, 1920. His studio contained numerous unfinished canvases, reflecting his dedication to art until his final days.

This painting, with its serene and bucolic scene, exemplifies Pierce's enduring connection to the pastoral life and his skillful impressionist technique.