John Fery (born Johann Nepomuk Levy) (Austrian/American, 1859-1934). Large oil on canvas painting titled "Lower Falls of the Yellowstone" depicting the park's largest waterfall, which cascades 308 feet into the canyon below. A lodge is visible in the distance along the upper right above the waterfalls. Signed along the lower right. This is one of twelve paintings - that included views of Yellowstone National Park - that Fery completed for the Northern Pacific Railway in 1914.

Fery's paintings were often large format, sometimes reaching sizes of over one hundred square feet. He specialized in large landscapes of outdoor scenes, which attracted the interest of Louis Hill, son of James J. Hill, and owner of the Great Northern Railway, who would go on to be one of his largest customers. The works were hung in train stations and other locations to promote travel, particularly to Glacier National Park.

Fery never lived in one place for very long, traveling throughout the United States and visiting state and national parks whenever he could. At one point, he lived in Duluth where he and fellow Austrian-born painter Feodor von Luerzer painted murals for the Fitger Brewery tap room. Though a fire near the end of his life destroyed much of his sketches and many paintings, about 150 have been discovered after his death.
Sight; heigh: 71 1/4 in x width: 44 1/2 in. Framed; height: 82 in x width: 55 in.

There is craquelure throughout the work; most notable along the thicker areas of paint. There are minor losses to the paint layer throughout, most notable along the thicker areas of paint. There are a number of restorations and inpainting to the artwork. The largest stretches horizontally across the middle section of the painting, curving upwards along the ends; there is one branch extending downward from this middle section. To the cliff just right of the waterfall there are several restorations; one large round area measuring approximately 4 inches in diameter; three spots just above that cliff measuring from 2 to 4 inches in diameter. One restoration just to the left of the middle of the waterfall measuring approx. 1 inch by 3 inches. One large restoration to the lower left corner measuring approx. 4 inches in diameter. Numerous small restorations throughout. The verso has been lined to a paper board; as such the verso of the canvas cannot be inspected. Some wear and minor losses to the frame.