19th Century American and Western Art
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.
Frederic Sackrider Remington, an American artist born in 1861 in Canton, New York, is celebrated for his vivid portrayals of the American West. Specializing in painting, sculpture, and illustration, Remington captured the essence of Western life through dynamic scenes of cowboys, Native Americans, and the U.S. Cavalry, evoking a nostalgic era that was quickly vanishing by the late 19th century.
Remington's early experiences in the West, which included ventures into sheepherding and prospecting, profoundly influenced his artwork. Despite initial business failures and personal setbacks, his first-hand encounters with the rugged landscapes and frontier characters provided authentic material for his art. By the mid-1880s, Remington’s work began to gain recognition, and he quickly established himself as a significant figure in Western art, contributing illustrations to popular magazines like Harper’s Weekly.
In his later years, Remington's style evolved, displaying a notable shift towards impressionism and atmospheric mood in his "Nocturnes" series. These paintings are characterized by a dramatic use of light and shadow to convey the mystery and tension of nighttime in the West. Despite his own critical self-view, these works were highly regarded and marked a significant contribution to American art history. Remington’s art is featured in major collections, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Frederic Remington Art Museum in Ogdensburg, New York, preserving his legacy as an icon of American culture.
For those interested in exploring more about Frederic Remington’s life and works, updates on exhibitions and sales can be subscribed to, keeping enthusiasts connected to new insights and offerings related to this influential artist.
Frederic Sackrider Remington, an American artist born in 1861 in Canton, New York, is celebrated for his vivid portrayals of the American West. Specializing in painting, sculpture, and illustration, Remington captured the essence of Western life through dynamic scenes of cowboys, Native Americans, and the U.S. Cavalry, evoking a nostalgic era that was quickly vanishing by the late 19th century.
Remington's early experiences in the West, which included ventures into sheepherding and prospecting, profoundly influenced his artwork. Despite initial business failures and personal setbacks, his first-hand encounters with the rugged landscapes and frontier characters provided authentic material for his art. By the mid-1880s, Remington’s work began to gain recognition, and he quickly established himself as a significant figure in Western art, contributing illustrations to popular magazines like Harper’s Weekly.
In his later years, Remington's style evolved, displaying a notable shift towards impressionism and atmospheric mood in his "Nocturnes" series. These paintings are characterized by a dramatic use of light and shadow to convey the mystery and tension of nighttime in the West. Despite his own critical self-view, these works were highly regarded and marked a significant contribution to American art history. Remington’s art is featured in major collections, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Frederic Remington Art Museum in Ogdensburg, New York, preserving his legacy as an icon of American culture.
For those interested in exploring more about Frederic Remington’s life and works, updates on exhibitions and sales can be subscribed to, keeping enthusiasts connected to new insights and offerings related to this influential artist.
Thomas Moran was an American painter and printmaker of the Hudson River School in New York whose work often featured the Rocky Mountains. Moran and his family, wife Mary Nimmo Moran and daughter Ruth took residence in New York where he obtained work as an artist. He was a younger brother of the noted marine artist Edward Moran, with whom he shared a studio. A talented illustrator and exquisite colorist, Thomas Moran was hired as an illustrator at Scribner's Monthly. During the late 1860s, he was appointed the chief illustrator for the magazine, a position that helped him launch his career as one of the premier painters of the American landscape, in particular, the American West.
Moran along with Albert Bierstadt, Thomas Hill, and William Keith are sometimes referred to as belonging to the Rocky Mountain School of landscape painters because of all of the Western landscapes made by this group.
Thomas Hill was an English-born American artist of the 19th century. He produced many fine paintings of the California landscape, in particular of the Yosemite Valley, as well as the White Mountains of New Hampshire.
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.
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.
George Inness was a prominent American landscape painter.
Now recognized as one of the most influential American artists of the nineteenth century, Inness was influenced by the Hudson River School at the start of his career. He also studied the Old Masters, and artists of the Barbizon school during later trips to Europe. There he was introduced to the theology of Emanuel Swedenborg, which was significant for him; he expressed that spiritualism in the works of his maturity (1879-1894).
Thomas Worthington Whittredge was an American artist, a prominent figure of the Hudson River School, and is celebrated for his poetic forest scenes and serene landscapes. Born near Springfield, Ohio, Whittredge embarked on a journey that would see him become a household name in American art. His works are known for their depiction of the vastness and silence of the Plains, which he described as having a profound impact on him. He is particularly remembered for his trips to the West, which greatly influenced his art, leading to masterpieces that are treasured for their linear horizons and stark beauty.
Whittredge's legacy is preserved in the collections of esteemed institutions such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and the Louvre in Paris. His works, like 'The Trout Pool' (1870) and 'The Old Hunting Grounds' (1864), continue to enchant viewers with their tranquility and aesthetic appeal. His life, detailed in his autobiography, reflects a passionate dedication to capturing the essence of the American landscape.
For collectors, auctioneers, and experts in art and antiques, the works of Thomas Worthington Whittredge offer a timeless investment. His paintings are a testament to the Hudson River School's vision and skill, reflecting a deep connection to the American spirit. To stay informed about new product sales and auction events related to Whittredge, sign up for updates and ensure you don't miss the opportunity to own a piece of American art history.
Martin Johnson Heade was an American painter known for his salt marsh landscapes, seascapes, and depictions of tropical birds (such as hummingbirds), as well as lotus blossoms and other still lifes. His painting style and subject matter, while derived from the romanticism of the time, are regarded by art historians as a significant departure from those of his peers.
Sanford Robinson Gifford was an American landscape painter and a leading member of the second generation of Hudson River School artists. A highly-regarded practitioner of Luminism, his work was noted for its emphasis on light and soft atmospheric effects.
Martin Johnson Heade was an American painter known for his salt marsh landscapes, seascapes, and depictions of tropical birds (such as hummingbirds), as well as lotus blossoms and other still lifes. His painting style and subject matter, while derived from the romanticism of the time, are regarded by art historians as a significant departure from those of his peers.
Martin Johnson Heade was an American painter known for his salt marsh landscapes, seascapes, and depictions of tropical birds (such as hummingbirds), as well as lotus blossoms and other still lifes. His painting style and subject matter, while derived from the romanticism of the time, are regarded by art historians as a significant departure from those of his peers.
Martin Johnson Heade was an American painter known for his salt marsh landscapes, seascapes, and depictions of tropical birds (such as hummingbirds), as well as lotus blossoms and other still lifes. His painting style and subject matter, while derived from the romanticism of the time, are regarded by art historians as a significant departure from those of his peers.
Severin Roesen was a Prussian-American painter known for his abundant fruit and flower still lifes, and is today recognized as one of the major American painters in that genre from the nineteenth century.
While Roesen's paintings reveal a meticulous attention to detail in their precise arrangements and close brushwork, his subject matter, even down to specific motifs, did not change throughout his career. Sometimes he made near-identical copies of paintings, but usually he merely rearranged and reassembled stock elements.
John La Farge was an American artist whose career spanned illustration, murals, interior design, painting, and popular books on his Asian travels and other art-related topics.
La Farge is best known for his production of stained glass, mainly for churches on the American east coast, beginning with a large commission for Henry Hobson Richardson's Trinity Church in Boston in 1878, and continuing for thirty years. La Farge designed stained glass as an artist, as a specialist in color, and as a technical innovator, holding a patent granted in 1880 for superimposing panes of glass. That patent would be key in his dispute with contemporary and rival Louis Comfort Tiffany.
John La Farge was an American artist whose career spanned illustration, murals, interior design, painting, and popular books on his Asian travels and other art-related topics.
La Farge is best known for his production of stained glass, mainly for churches on the American east coast, beginning with a large commission for Henry Hobson Richardson's Trinity Church in Boston in 1878, and continuing for thirty years. La Farge designed stained glass as an artist, as a specialist in color, and as a technical innovator, holding a patent granted in 1880 for superimposing panes of glass. That patent would be key in his dispute with contemporary and rival Louis Comfort Tiffany.
John Singer Sargent was an American artist celebrated for his captivating portraits, which mirrored the luxury of the Edwardian era. Born to American parents in Florence, Italy, Sargent was a well-traveled individual, fluent in multiple languages, and exposed to European art from a young age. His early artistic training came under the tutelage of Carolus-Duran in Paris, which significantly influenced his style and approach to art. Sargent's work, characterized by its striking realism and attention to detail, gained international acclaim, especially among the aristocracy in England and the United States.
Noteworthy is John Singer Sargent's "Carnation, Lily, Lily, Rose," a piece that, after its display at the Royal Academy in 1887, solidified his status in the London art scene. This painting, along with many others, showcases his ability to capture the essence of his subjects, earning him numerous commissions from prominent figures of his time. However, by the early 20th century, Sargent shifted his focus to watercolors and murals, seeking respite from the demands of portrait commissions. His mural works, like those for the Boston Public Library, highlight his versatility and commitment to art beyond portraiture.
For collectors and art experts, understanding John Singer Sargent's journey—from his early days in Florence and Paris to his ultimate success as a portraitist and muralist—offers valuable insights into his artistic evolution and the historical context of his work. His pieces, housed in prestigious institutions worldwide, continue to captivate audiences with their elegance and technical prowess.
If you're keen on staying updated with events and sales related to John Singer Sargent's art, consider signing up for updates. This subscription will keep you informed about new product sales and auction events specifically related to Sargent's works, ensuring you don't miss out on valuable opportunities.
John Singer Sargent was an American artist celebrated for his captivating portraits, which mirrored the luxury of the Edwardian era. Born to American parents in Florence, Italy, Sargent was a well-traveled individual, fluent in multiple languages, and exposed to European art from a young age. His early artistic training came under the tutelage of Carolus-Duran in Paris, which significantly influenced his style and approach to art. Sargent's work, characterized by its striking realism and attention to detail, gained international acclaim, especially among the aristocracy in England and the United States.
Noteworthy is John Singer Sargent's "Carnation, Lily, Lily, Rose," a piece that, after its display at the Royal Academy in 1887, solidified his status in the London art scene. This painting, along with many others, showcases his ability to capture the essence of his subjects, earning him numerous commissions from prominent figures of his time. However, by the early 20th century, Sargent shifted his focus to watercolors and murals, seeking respite from the demands of portrait commissions. His mural works, like those for the Boston Public Library, highlight his versatility and commitment to art beyond portraiture.
For collectors and art experts, understanding John Singer Sargent's journey—from his early days in Florence and Paris to his ultimate success as a portraitist and muralist—offers valuable insights into his artistic evolution and the historical context of his work. His pieces, housed in prestigious institutions worldwide, continue to captivate audiences with their elegance and technical prowess.
If you're keen on staying updated with events and sales related to John Singer Sargent's art, consider signing up for updates. This subscription will keep you informed about new product sales and auction events specifically related to Sargent's works, ensuring you don't miss out on valuable opportunities.
Winslow Homer was an American landscape painter and printmaker, renowned for his mastery of marine subjects and considered a preeminent figure in 19th-century American art. Born in Boston, Massachusetts in 1836, Homer was largely self-taught, starting his career as a commercial illustrator before venturing into oil painting and watercolors.
Homer's art evolved significantly over his lifetime. During the American Civil War, he worked as a correspondent, creating sketches that conveyed both the immediacy and the human cost of the war. This experience deeply influenced his later work, particularly his powerful oil paintings depicting war and its aftermath. After the war, Homer's focus shifted towards scenes of nature and rural America, reflecting a national nostalgia for simpler times. His works from this period, such as "The Cotton Pickers" and "Snap the Whip," showcase his ability to capture everyday life with poignant realism and emotional depth.
Later in his career, Homer became renowned for his watercolors and seascapes, such as "Breezing Up (A Fair Wind)" and "The Gulf Stream," which are celebrated for their dynamic composition and vivid portrayal of human interaction with nature. His late seascapes, which often depicted the rugged coastlines of Maine, are particularly noted for their dramatic intensity and hint at modernist abstraction, capturing the formidable power and timeless beauty of the sea.
Homer's works are held in high regard and continue to be featured in major museums and galleries, providing inspiration and insight into the American experience of the 19th century.
For those interested in the works of Winslow Homer and the impact of his art, you can sign up for updates related to new product sales and auction events featuring his work. This will keep you informed on opportunities to engage more deeply with Homer's enduring legacy.
Winslow Homer was an American landscape painter and printmaker, renowned for his mastery of marine subjects and considered a preeminent figure in 19th-century American art. Born in Boston, Massachusetts in 1836, Homer was largely self-taught, starting his career as a commercial illustrator before venturing into oil painting and watercolors.
Homer's art evolved significantly over his lifetime. During the American Civil War, he worked as a correspondent, creating sketches that conveyed both the immediacy and the human cost of the war. This experience deeply influenced his later work, particularly his powerful oil paintings depicting war and its aftermath. After the war, Homer's focus shifted towards scenes of nature and rural America, reflecting a national nostalgia for simpler times. His works from this period, such as "The Cotton Pickers" and "Snap the Whip," showcase his ability to capture everyday life with poignant realism and emotional depth.
Later in his career, Homer became renowned for his watercolors and seascapes, such as "Breezing Up (A Fair Wind)" and "The Gulf Stream," which are celebrated for their dynamic composition and vivid portrayal of human interaction with nature. His late seascapes, which often depicted the rugged coastlines of Maine, are particularly noted for their dramatic intensity and hint at modernist abstraction, capturing the formidable power and timeless beauty of the sea.
Homer's works are held in high regard and continue to be featured in major museums and galleries, providing inspiration and insight into the American experience of the 19th century.
For those interested in the works of Winslow Homer and the impact of his art, you can sign up for updates related to new product sales and auction events featuring his work. This will keep you informed on opportunities to engage more deeply with Homer's enduring legacy.
Augustus Saint-Gaudens was an American sculptor of the Beaux-Arts generation who embodied the ideals of the American Renaissance. From a French-Irish family, Saint-Gaudens was raised in New York City, he traveled to Europe for further training and artistic study. After he returned to New York, he achieved major critical success for his monuments commemorating heroes of the American Civil War, many of which still stand. Saint-Gaudens created works such as the Robert Gould Shaw Memorial on Boston Common, Abraham Lincoln: The Man, and grand equestrian monuments to Civil War generals: General John Logan Memorial in Chicago's Grant Park and William Tecumseh Sherman at the corner of New York's Central Park. In addition, he created the popular historicist representation of The Puritan.
Saint-Gaudens also created Classical works such as the Diana, and employed his design skills in numismatics. He designed the $20 Saint Gaudens Double Eagle gold piece (1905–1907) for the US Mint, considered one of the most beautiful American coins ever issued, as well as the $10 "Indian Head" gold eagle; both of these were minted from 1907 until 1933. In his later years he founded the "Cornish Colony", an artist's colony in New Hampshire that included notable painters, sculptors, writers, and architects.
Frederick William MacMonnies was the best known expatriate American sculptor of the Beaux-Arts school, as successful and lauded in France as he was in the United States. He was also a highly accomplished painter and portraitist. He was born in Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn, New York and died in New York City.
Three of MacMonnies' best-known sculptures are Nathan Hale, Bacchante and Infant Faun, and Diana.
Thomas Hill was an English-born American artist of the 19th century. He produced many fine paintings of the California landscape, in particular of the Yosemite Valley, as well as the White Mountains of New Hampshire.
Thomas Hill was an English-born American artist of the 19th century. He produced many fine paintings of the California landscape, in particular of the Yosemite Valley, as well as the White Mountains of New Hampshire.