Leo B. Blake (American, 1887-1976), Haying Season

Oil on canvas, signed at lower right, presented in a period frame with brass gallery plaque.

Stretcher size 25 x 30 in.; Frame dimensions 31 x 26 in.

Leo B. Blake received his formal training at the Art Institute of Chicago from 1908 to 1912, where he studied under influential instructors such as J.H. Vanderpoel, Alphonse Mucha, and Antonin Sterba. He was further mentored by renowned painters including Mathis Alten and Birge Harrison. Awarded scholarships in 1910 and 1911, Blake began his career in illustration and commercial art before shifting his focus to fine art. In 1933, he established a permanent studio in the Berkshires, dedicating himself to capturing the landscapes and seasonal beauty of New England.

A respected member of numerous arts organizations—including the Salmagundi Club and the Connecticut Academy of Fine Arts—Blake exhibited widely and received several awards, notably from the Illinois Academy of Fine Arts and the Salmagundi Club. His works are held in the collections of the Illinois State Museum, the Berkshire Museum, and the Rochester Institute of Technology. An influential teacher as well, Blake taught at Williams College, the Berkshire Museum, and various local institutions, leaving a lasting impact on both students and collectors of American regional landscape painting.

Light surface grime; no evidence of retouch visible under UV light.