In the early to mid-1800s, the expansive landscapes of New York State’s Hudson River Valley and adjacent areas, such as the Catskill, Adirondack, and White Mountains, inspired a remarkably talented group of American artists, who came to be known as the Hudson River School. Thomas Cole (1801–1848) and Asher Brown Durand (1796–1886) were among the first American artists to paint the landscapes of this region and became the founders of this group of artists, who drew inspiration from the contemplation and study of nature. Their efforts made landscape painting popular as a subject for generations of American painters. Like their literary counterparts Washington Irving and James Fenimore Cooper, these artists extolled the majesty of the American wilderness and the idea of living in harmonious balance with nature.
Hudson River School artists also journeyed beyond New York State to other regions noted for scenic beauty, such as New Hampshire, coastal New England, the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia as well as to Europe and South America. They created intricate, often idealized views that conveyed not only the physical details of each landscape but also its mood and atmosphere.
Later reproduced in popular magazines and books, Hudson River School paintings, often depicting recognizable locations, influenced the way in which Americans considered the landscape as part of the country’s cultural heritage. It is perhaps no small coincidence that many of the places revered by the Hudson River School artists are now national parks, state wilderness preserves, and historic sites. American Landscapes from the New-York Historical Society celebrates the Hudson River School artists and their depiction of the poetic beauty of nature and the American landscape.
This exhibition has been organized by the New-York Historical Society.
Presenting Sponsor
Lead Sponsors
Andrew Britton and David Grey
Christian and Cheryl Heilmann
Elizabeth R. Lemieux, Ph.D.
Family of F. X. Matt II
Hon. Beverly Tobin (ret.), in memory of Edwin J. Tobin
Sponsors
Joseph A. Abraham
John Brown, Coldwell Banker Faith Properties
Ricky and Leiter Doolittle
MJ and Colleen Gaetano
Cheryl and Fred Haritatos
Lisa and John Mack
Jacque and Terry Tolles Fund of the Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties
Melany and Chris Welch
Laura and Todd Wetzel MD
