Swan Boats at New Orleans City Park by Michael Deas

This original oil on canvas painting by American master illustrator Michael J. Deas measures approximately 52 by 36 inches. The composition features a young girl in a white dress walking down a wooden pier flanked by a symmetrical double row of white swan-shaped pedal boats. The setting is the Big Lake in New Orleans City Park, with the iconic Casino Building visible in the middle distance. The artist's signature hyper-realistic style is evident in the dramatic, low-hanging cumulonimbus clouds that occupy more than two-thirds of the canvas, rendered with intricate textures of gray, blue, and filtered light. The water reflects the warm, muted tones of a late afternoon or early evening sky. The craftsmanship is of exceptional quality, demonstrating Deas's technical mastery of light and atmosphere, reminiscent of his iconic commercial work for Columbia Pictures. The condition appears excellent with no visible signs of craquelure, paint loss, or previous restoration. The palette is a sophisticated blend of earthen greens, deep blues, and brilliant whites. Created in the contemporary realist tradition, likely in the late 20th or early 21st century, the piece showcases the painter's ability to imbue a tranquil scene with cinematic tension and narrative depth.