Hudson River School — Auction price
Albert Bierstadt, a German-American painter, became renowned for his expansive and romanticized landscapes of the American West. Born in Solingen, Germany, in 1830, Bierstadt moved to New Bedford, Massachusetts, at the age of two with his family. Largely self-taught, he initially worked as a drawing teacher before traveling to Europe to hone his skills. Bierstadt's European studies, particularly in Düsseldorf, greatly influenced his artistic style, equipping him with the techniques that he would later apply to his majestic depictions of the American wilderness.
Bierstadt's first major expedition to the West in 1859 marked the beginning of his lifelong fascination with the region. His works from this period, such as "The Rocky Mountains, Lander's Peak" (1863), captured the public imagination and established him as a leading figure in the Hudson River School. These paintings were celebrated for their detailed and idealized portrayal of the rugged landscapes and played a role in shaping the perception of the American West during a time of rapid territorial expansion and exploration.
Despite his success, Bierstadt's style fell out of favor towards the end of his career as tastes shifted towards realism and Impressionism. His later works, including "The Last of the Buffalo" (1888), were criticized for their perceived theatricality and excessive romanticism. Bierstadt's popularity waned, and he faced financial difficulties, but his legacy experienced a resurgence in the mid-20th century as interest in his technique and contributions to American art history grew.
For collectors and enthusiasts of American landscape painting, Bierstadt’s works offer a vivid, albeit embellished, glimpse into the 19th-century frontier spirit. His paintings are housed in major institutions like the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the National Gallery of Art, serving as testaments to his skill and vision.
To stay updated on exhibitions and sales related to Albert Bierstadt's works, consider signing up for alerts tailored to his artistic contributions. This subscription will keep you informed about new discoveries and auction events specifically linked to Bierstadt's enduring legacy.
Albert Bierstadt, a German-American painter, became renowned for his expansive and romanticized landscapes of the American West. Born in Solingen, Germany, in 1830, Bierstadt moved to New Bedford, Massachusetts, at the age of two with his family. Largely self-taught, he initially worked as a drawing teacher before traveling to Europe to hone his skills. Bierstadt's European studies, particularly in Düsseldorf, greatly influenced his artistic style, equipping him with the techniques that he would later apply to his majestic depictions of the American wilderness.
Bierstadt's first major expedition to the West in 1859 marked the beginning of his lifelong fascination with the region. His works from this period, such as "The Rocky Mountains, Lander's Peak" (1863), captured the public imagination and established him as a leading figure in the Hudson River School. These paintings were celebrated for their detailed and idealized portrayal of the rugged landscapes and played a role in shaping the perception of the American West during a time of rapid territorial expansion and exploration.
Despite his success, Bierstadt's style fell out of favor towards the end of his career as tastes shifted towards realism and Impressionism. His later works, including "The Last of the Buffalo" (1888), were criticized for their perceived theatricality and excessive romanticism. Bierstadt's popularity waned, and he faced financial difficulties, but his legacy experienced a resurgence in the mid-20th century as interest in his technique and contributions to American art history grew.
For collectors and enthusiasts of American landscape painting, Bierstadt’s works offer a vivid, albeit embellished, glimpse into the 19th-century frontier spirit. His paintings are housed in major institutions like the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the National Gallery of Art, serving as testaments to his skill and vision.
To stay updated on exhibitions and sales related to Albert Bierstadt's works, consider signing up for alerts tailored to his artistic contributions. This subscription will keep you informed about new discoveries and auction events specifically linked to Bierstadt's enduring legacy.
George Herbert McCord was an American painter known for his luminous landscapes and seascapes.
McCord studied at the National Academy of Design in New York and later in Paris under the guidance of the French Barbizon School. He became known for his ability to capture the changing effects of light and atmosphere in his landscapes and seascapes. He was particularly interested in the coastal areas of Long Island and the North Shore of Massachusetts, which he depicted in many of his paintings.
McCord was a member of several prominent art organizations, including the Society of American Artists and the American Watercolor Society. He exhibited regularly at the National Academy of Design, the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, and the Paris Salon.
Today, McCord's work can be found in the collections of museums such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City and the Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington, D.C. He is considered one of the leading American landscape painters of the late 19th century and his work continues to be admired for its luminosity and skillful rendering of light and atmosphere.
Jasper Francis Cropsey was an important American landscape artist of the Hudson River School.
Cropsey's interest in architecture continued throughout his life and was a strong influence in his painting, most evident in his precise arrangement and outline of forms. But Cropsey was best known for his lavish use of color and, as a first-generation member from the Hudson River School, painted autumn landscapes that startled viewers with their boldness and brilliance. As an artist, he believed landscapes were the highest art form and that nature was a direct manifestation of God. He also felt a patriotic affiliation with nature and saw his paintings as depicting the rugged and unspoiled qualities of America.
George Herbert McCord was an American painter known for his luminous landscapes and seascapes.
McCord studied at the National Academy of Design in New York and later in Paris under the guidance of the French Barbizon School. He became known for his ability to capture the changing effects of light and atmosphere in his landscapes and seascapes. He was particularly interested in the coastal areas of Long Island and the North Shore of Massachusetts, which he depicted in many of his paintings.
McCord was a member of several prominent art organizations, including the Society of American Artists and the American Watercolor Society. He exhibited regularly at the National Academy of Design, the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, and the Paris Salon.
Today, McCord's work can be found in the collections of museums such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City and the Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington, D.C. He is considered one of the leading American landscape painters of the late 19th century and his work continues to be admired for its luminosity and skillful rendering of light and atmosphere.
Jasper Francis Cropsey was an important American landscape artist of the Hudson River School.
Cropsey's interest in architecture continued throughout his life and was a strong influence in his painting, most evident in his precise arrangement and outline of forms. But Cropsey was best known for his lavish use of color and, as a first-generation member from the Hudson River School, painted autumn landscapes that startled viewers with their boldness and brilliance. As an artist, he believed landscapes were the highest art form and that nature was a direct manifestation of God. He also felt a patriotic affiliation with nature and saw his paintings as depicting the rugged and unspoiled qualities of America.
John Frederick Kensett was an American landscape painter and engraver born in Cheshire, Connecticut. He was a member of the second generation of the Hudson River School of artists. Kensett's signature works are landscape paintings of New England and New York State, whose clear light and serene surfaces celebrate transcendental qualities of nature, and are associated with Luminism. Kensett's early work owed much to the influence of Thomas Cole, but was from the outset distinguished by a preference for cooler colors and an interest in less dramatic topography, favoring restraint in both palette and composition. The work of Kensett's maturity features tranquil scenery depicted with a spare geometry, culminating in series of paintings in which coastal promontories are balanced against glass-smooth water. He was a founder of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.