A RARE SIGHTING
$395.00
Editorial View
The Gallery's Perspective
You first notice the hush of the forest — the dense trunks and mottled undergrowth that almost swallow the small group at the painting’s center. Buxton stages a tense, intimate moment: a lone red-coated soldier seated and guarded by several Native warriors whose upright spears and upright postures create a careful, watchful ring. The light is decisive yet restrained, slipping through the canopy to pick out the soldier’s uniform and the warm tones of skin and leather, while much of the woodlands remains cool and shadowed. That contrast gives the scene both drama and restraint; it feels less like a public spectacle and more like a private reckoning in the trees. Notice the artist’s attention to historical detail — clothing, weapons and the forest floor — which grounds the emotion in a believable moment without overstating a single explanation. The painting carries a mix of tension, fatigue and quiet authority: a story of crossing boundaries and the small, charged human encounters that follow. It’s the kind of work that sits in a room and quietly lends a sense of narrative depth and stillness.
The Artwork
About Lost and Found for Bounty
Lost and Found for Bounty - Despite the insurmountable odds, harsh discipline or unbearable circumstances British soldiers were occasionally driven to the desperate act of deserting into the vast colonial wilderness. There are accounts recorded from as early as the 18th Century. To help capture these run-a-ways during the French and Indian War, the use of allied Indians began in earnest after 1760.
One of the most successful captures involved the return of 14 men taken by the Seneca in 1762. Some of these deserters were of the 60th Royal American Regiment "• as seen in this painting "• and were returned to their commandant at Fort Niagara on Lake Ontario. Another instance can be found in this account from in the papers of Colonel Henry Bouquet:
Lieut. Carre to Col. Bouquet "• Venango "• Aug. 15 1761
"Sir,
I have sent under the care of the bearer, Corporal Roller, Phillip Dill of Major Walters Company, who deserted from Niagara the 12th of July & was brought here by an Indian who took him up near Custaloga's; as the Indian insisted much to have his reward in Rum, I promised that he should have 2 1/2 gallons at Fort Pitt (where he will be in a few days) in case you approve of it. The Deserter says there was another man came off with him, whom he left in the woods near Presqu'isle so weak that he could not proceed & that he advised him to deliver himself up at Presqu'isle . . . ."
"Lost and Found for Bounty" is a Fine Art Canvas that captures John Buxton"s incredible play of light in a dark forest coupled with raw, intense emotion. No one captures light and or stages a scene in a painting as skillfully as Buxton and few other painters pay such attention to historic detail.
Collector Details
What to Know About This Piece
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About the Collection
John Buxton is a renowned historical fine artist, best known for his realistic depictions of 18th-century American frontier life. His artwork, meticulously researched and historically accurate, brings to life the events and people of the French and Indian War, Native American history, and Colonial America. With a background in commercial illustration, Buxton transitioned to fine art, creating dynamic and immersive historical scenes that capture the essence of America’s early conflicts and cultural interactions. His collectible fine art prints and original paintings are highly sought after by history enthusiasts and art collectors, preserving the rich heritage of the American Revolution and frontier life.
Artist Signature
Signed by the artist
This piece is artist signed and includes a Certificate of Authenticity.
Image Rights
Image copyright © 2026 by John Buxton.
Authorized Source
Authenticity & Documentation
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"John Buxton was born in the small southern town of Oxford, North Carolina. He
excelled at art from childhood. After two years of general college in his
home state, he earned his art degree from the Art Center College of Design in
Los Angeles, California.
He was a successful illustrator for 31 years, working in Detroit, Cleveland
and Pittsburgh. During this time, he illustrated two books for the National
Geographic Society and developed a fascination with documentation and truth in
art. In 1994 he left illustration and began painting subjects more personal
to his interests.
Buxton soon began exhibiting his painting, placing two works in the
Birds in Art show at the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum. Northlight Books
later reproduced these two paintings in The Best of Wildlife Art 2 by Rachel
Rubin World. He entered, and placed in the Top 100 in the Arts For The Parks
competition. The Society of Animal Artists elected him to membership and
invited him to show in their national exhibitions. He exhibited with the
American Academy of Equine Artists before settling into his true niche:
Historical Art.
Buxton s historical images of the 18th century often depict scenes
from the birth of our nation, allowing the viewer to witness momentous events
or experiences from everyday life of the frontier. Many historical sites
display Buxton s extensively researched works and several documentary films
have been aired that featured his paintings. Buxton s paintings are available
as a CD Teaching Aid for educators wishing to give students a more intimate
view of America s historical heritage, effectively making history come alive.
His original paintings and commissioned works are in great demand. Buxton
exhibits his original art at Settlers West Galleries in Arizona, Gallery One
of Ohio and Lord Nelson s Gallery in Gettysburg. Buxton has shown his artwork
at the Gilcrease Museum and his largest painting; a life-size standing
portrait of Abraham Lincoln hangs in a place of honor at the National Civil War Museum.
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