Native New Orleanian George Louis Viavant grew up hunting in the swamps and bayous surrounding his father's hunting lodge on Gentilly Road. Viavant's appreciation of the nature of southern Louisiana was reflected in his nature morte watercolor paintings of birds and animals. To insure the accuracy of his images, Viavant painted from fresh game that he had caught or that hunters and fishermen brought to his studio. Source: Jordan, George E. George L. Viavant: Artist of the Hunt. The Historic New Orleans Collection, 2003.