The St. Augustine Church was built by Augustin Metroyer on the banks of the Cane River. He was a "homme de couleur libre" (free man of color), son of Marie Therese Coin-Coin, and an owner of the Melrose Plantation and multiple slaves. The Creole culture of the Cane River area is unique in Louisiana and the United States. This painting was donated for an auction benefiting the River Oaks Arts Center and fetched a good price.