American School Three Bear Cubs Playing in a Tree

Unsigned, ca. 1850-1875.
Oil on canvas, 30” x 19 ½”, 34 ½” x 24” (frame).
Over-all in excellent condition, lined on original white pine stretcher.
Provenance: Collection of John Greenberger, Massachusetts; Dana Tillou, Buffalo, New York.

This unsigned painting is very reminiscent of the work by William Holbrook Beard (1824-1900), however this painting of three cubs playing in a tree does not display the satiric scenes of the bears engaging in human activity like you commonly see in Beard’s work. The rarity of the subject matter of bears in a forest make it desirable among collectors.