This charming mid-19th-century oil painting attributed to English artist William Traies (1789-1872) depicts a picturesque river view with cascade, figures and cattle. Traies was an accomplished landscape painter, well-admired for his numerous renderings of Devonshire idyls.A gnarled tree stretches its sinuous branches as if yawning amid nature''s melody. It�s perhaps early morning, an ideal environment for fishing. The shimmering river, punctuated by boulders, weaves beyond view as weary cattle take welcome refreshment in the shallows.Traies� mastery of light effects, coupled with his distinct skill for balanced compositions, evokes a sense of Arcadian reverence. Where travellers rest awhile under canopies of ancient oaks, while the sun, lazy in its final embers, sprawls its golden luminance across endless pasture. There�s no sign of industrialization amid the protection of nature�s soliditude.Dubbed ''The Claude Lorraine of Devonshire�, Traies�s story is one of connection and kinship rather than academic regimen. He was born in the sleepy historic town of Crediton, near Exeter, and commenced his working life at the local post office. Here, although naturally respectful of his duties as a clerk, he utilised every moment of free time to sketch among nature. As a boy, he often adventured with his friend John Gendall, as both were budding artists, with ample inspiration on their doorstep. Devon is blessed with rolling uplands, craggy riverbanks, whispering brooks, and dense woodlands. Like his contemporary, John Constable (1776-1837), Traies was taught by the transient whims of nature herself.His innate fascination for the environment led to early patronage in the form of Dr. Neal, a Scotch physician, for whom he produced a number of illustrations. Much to the young man�s surprise, Neal paid him handsomely for the work.Evidently well-connected, he garnered further support via the Reverend Gayer Patch, rector of Trinity, who introduced him to the...