The Hudson River SchoolThe Hudson River School

American Art 1820-1870American Art 1820-1870Donna M. Campbell, Washington State UniversityDonna M. Campbell, Washington State University

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Background: pre-1825Background: pre-1825

PortraiturePortraiture– European influenceEuropean influence– American “Naive” styleAmerican “Naive” style

Flat design, spare painting (Ammi Phillips, 1788-1865)Flat design, spare painting (Ammi Phillips, 1788-1865)

LandscapesLandscapes– Often appear as detail of portraiture: property seen Often appear as detail of portraiture: property seen

through an open window indicates wealththrough an open window indicates wealth– Washington Allston’s imaginary landscapesWashington Allston’s imaginary landscapes

European influence:European influence:

John Singleton John Singleton Copley, Copley, Paul Revere, Paul Revere, 17681768

Naïve styleNaïve style

Ammi Phillips, Ammi Phillips, Portrait of Harriet Portrait of Harriet Campbell, 1815Campbell, 1815

Naïve styleNaïve style

Edward Hicks, Edward Hicks, The The Peaceable KingdomPeaceable Kingdom (1834)(1834)

Formal PrinciplesFormal Principles Not merely topographic but interpretive and poetic Not merely topographic but interpretive and poetic

views of natureviews of nature Formal composition and attention to detailFormal composition and attention to detail Depictions of harmony in natureDepictions of harmony in nature

SubjectsSubjects

““Home in the Wilderness” Home in the Wilderness” Juncture of civilization and wilderness: “Wilderness Juncture of civilization and wilderness: “Wilderness

on the doorstep”on the doorstep” Incursions of civilization and progressIncursions of civilization and progress

Thomas Cole, Thomas Cole, The Hunter’s Return The Hunter’s Return (1845) (1845)

Thomas Cole, Thomas Cole, Home in the WoodsHome in the Woods (1847) (1847)

Thomas Cole, Thomas Cole, Daniel Boone Sitting at the Door of his Daniel Boone Sitting at the Door of his Cabin on the Great Osage Lake, Kentucky, 1826Cabin on the Great Osage Lake, Kentucky, 1826

Thomas Doughty, Thomas Doughty, Home on the HudsonHome on the Hudson

StyleStyle

Juxtaposition of elementsJuxtaposition of elements– Use of panoramic views and small human figures to Use of panoramic views and small human figures to

show immensity of nature and insignificance of human show immensity of nature and insignificance of human beingsbeings

Distant or elevated perspective for the viewerDistant or elevated perspective for the viewer Symbolic use of light and darknessSymbolic use of light and darkness Contrast of diverse elements to show the unity of Contrast of diverse elements to show the unity of

naturenature

Thomas Cole, Thomas Cole, Scene from Last of the Mohicans”: Scene from Last of the Mohicans”: Cora Kneeling at the Feet of Tamenund Cora Kneeling at the Feet of Tamenund (1827) (1827)

E. C. Coates, E. C. Coates, West PointWest Point (1855) (1855)

Thomas Cole, Thomas Cole, The Clove, CatskillsThe Clove, Catskills (1827) (1827)

Sublime, Beautiful, PicturesqueSublime, Beautiful, Picturesque Longinus, Longinus, On the SublimeOn the Sublime (AD 50) (AD 50)

– Resulting from spirit--a spark from writer to reader--Resulting from spirit--a spark from writer to reader--rather than technique rather than technique

Edmund Burke, Edmund Burke, Philosophical Inquiry into the Philosophical Inquiry into the Origins of Our Ideas of the Sublime and Beautiful Origins of Our Ideas of the Sublime and Beautiful (1757-1759(1757-1759))

Immanuel Kant, Immanuel Kant, Critique of JudgmentCritique of Judgment (1790) (1790)– Beauty is finite; the sublime is infiniteBeauty is finite; the sublime is infinite

The BeautifulThe Beautiful

Feminine qualitiesFeminine qualities HarmonyHarmony SociabilitySociability PastelsPastels Sensual curvesSensual curves

Burke on the SublimeBurke on the Sublime Painful idea creates a sublime passion Painful idea creates a sublime passion Sublime concentrates the mind on a single facet of Sublime concentrates the mind on a single facet of

experience, producing a momentary suspension of experience, producing a momentary suspension of rational activityrational activity

Harsh, antisocial, “masculine” representations exist Harsh, antisocial, “masculine” representations exist in the realm of obscurity and brute forcein the realm of obscurity and brute force

The Sublime The Sublime

““Agreeable horror” results from Agreeable horror” results from portrayals portrayals of of threatening objectsthreatening objects

Greater aesthetic value if the pain producing the Greater aesthetic value if the pain producing the effect is imaginary rather than realeffect is imaginary rather than real

Feelings of awe at sublime nature the aim of certain Feelings of awe at sublime nature the aim of certain kinds of artkinds of art

InfluencedInfluenced Poe Poe, the “Graveyard School” of poetry, , the “Graveyard School” of poetry, and Gothic novelsand Gothic novels

Thomas Moran, Thomas Moran, The Grand Canyon of the The Grand Canyon of the YellowstoneYellowstone, 1872, 1872

Albert Bierstadt, Albert Bierstadt, A Storm in the Rocky Mountains A Storm in the Rocky Mountains (1866)(1866)

PicturesquePicturesque Intermediate category between the sublime and the Intermediate category between the sublime and the

beautifulbeautiful Allowed the painter to organize nature into what Allowed the painter to organize nature into what

Pope called a “wild civility”Pope called a “wild civility” William Gilpin: illustrated tours in the 1790s William Gilpin: illustrated tours in the 1790s

established the conventionsestablished the conventions

Characteristics of the PicturesqueCharacteristics of the Picturesque

Ruggedness and asymmetryRuggedness and asymmetry Irregularity of lineIrregularity of line Contrasts of light and shadowContrasts of light and shadow Landscape as a rundown ArcadiaLandscape as a rundown Arcadia

– Ruined towers, fractured rocksRuined towers, fractured rocks– Mossy banks and winding streamsMossy banks and winding streams– Blighted or twisted treesBlighted or twisted trees

Appeal to nostalgia for preindustrial ageAppeal to nostalgia for preindustrial age

Thomas Cole, Thomas Cole, Roman Campagna (Ruins of Roman Campagna (Ruins of Aqueducts in the Campagna di Roma),Aqueducts in the Campagna di Roma), 1843 1843

The Hudson River SchoolThe Hudson River School Thomas Cole (1801-1848)Thomas Cole (1801-1848) Asher B. Durand (1796-1886) Asher B. Durand (1796-1886) Thomas Doughty (1793-1856)Thomas Doughty (1793-1856) John William Casilear John William Casilear

Thomas Cole (1801-1848)Thomas Cole (1801-1848) Discovered in 1825 byDiscovered in 1825 by

– John Trumbull,John Trumbull,– William DunlapWilliam Dunlap– Asher B. DurandAsher B. Durand

““The subject of art shouldThe subject of art should be pure and lofty . . .a moral, be pure and lofty . . .a moral, religious, or poetic effect religious, or poetic effect must be produced on the mind.”must be produced on the mind.”

Thomas ColeThomas Cole

Lake withLake withDead TreesDead Trees ( (1825)1825)

The painting that made The painting that made Cole famous.Cole famous.

Allegorical and realistic landscapes: Allegorical and realistic landscapes: The Voyage of The Voyage of Life (Childhood)Life (Childhood) , 1842 , 1842

Thomas Cole, Thomas Cole, A View of the Mountain Pass Called the A View of the Mountain Pass Called the Notch of the White Mountains (Crawford Notch),Notch of the White Mountains (Crawford Notch), 1839 1839

Thomas Cole, Thomas Cole, The Ox-Bow The Ox-Bow (1836) (1836)

Asher B. Durand (1796-1886)Asher B. Durand (1796-1886) Began as an engraver; turned to paintingBegan as an engraver; turned to painting ““Letters on Landscape Painting” (1855) in Letters on Landscape Painting” (1855) in The The

CrayonCrayon ““Go first to nature to learn to paint landscape.”Go first to nature to learn to paint landscape.”

Asher B. Durand, Asher B. Durand, Hudson River SceneHudson River Scene (1846) (1846)

Asher B. Durand, Asher B. Durand, Kindred SpiritsKindred Spirits (1849) (1849)

Thomas Cole and William Thomas Cole and William Cullen BryantCullen Bryant

See Bryant’s “To Cole, the See Bryant’s “To Cole, the Painter, Departing for Painter, Departing for Europe.”Europe.”

John William Casilear, John William Casilear, View on Lake GeorgeView on Lake George, 1857 , 1857

Panoramists and LuministsPanoramists and Luminists Second Generation of Hudson River schoolSecond Generation of Hudson River school Style of Hudson River painters applied to other Style of Hudson River painters applied to other

regions:regions:– Rocky Mountains Rocky Mountains – South AmericaSouth America

PractitionersPractitioners

Jasper Cropsey (1823-1900)Jasper Cropsey (1823-1900) Frederic E. Church (1826-1900) Frederic E. Church (1826-1900) John Frederick Kensett (1816-1873) John Frederick Kensett (1816-1873) George Inness (1825-1894)George Inness (1825-1894) Albert Bierstadt (1830-1902)Albert Bierstadt (1830-1902)

Jasper Cropsey (1823-1900)Jasper Cropsey (1823-1900) Imitator of Cole’s allegorical worksImitator of Cole’s allegorical works Panorama of Panorama of Pilgrim’s ProgressPilgrim’s Progress::

– Sixty large scenes unrolled to music and lectures. Sixty large scenes unrolled to music and lectures. – Panorama was eight feet high by 850’ long.Panorama was eight feet high by 850’ long.– Entire presentation took about two hours.Entire presentation took about two hours.

Jasper Cropsey, Jasper Cropsey, Palisades at Sunset Palisades at Sunset (Spyten Duyvil)(Spyten Duyvil)

Jasper Cropsey, Jasper Cropsey, Gates of the HudsonGates of the Hudson

Jasper Cropsey,Jasper Cropsey, Autumn on the Hudson Autumn on the Hudson (1860)(1860)

Frederick Edwin ChurchFrederick Edwin Church Thomas Cole’s major pupilThomas Cole’s major pupil Full-length “showpiece” landscapesFull-length “showpiece” landscapes

– Falls of NiagaraFalls of Niagara (1857) (1857)– Heart of the Andes Heart of the Andes (1859) (1859)

Landscape as symbol of divineLandscape as symbol of divine American continent as new EdenAmerican continent as new Eden Painted from nature, not notes and sketchesPainted from nature, not notes and sketches

Frederick Edwin Church, Frederick Edwin Church, Falls of NiagaraFalls of Niagara (1857) (1857)

Compare this painting with a photograph taken near the same spot in 2000.Compare this painting with a photograph taken near the same spot in 2000.

The Heart of the Andes The Heart of the Andes (1859)(1859)

Frederic Edwin Church, Frederic Edwin Church, Twilight in the WildernessTwilight in the Wilderness (1860)(1860)

George Inness (1825-1894)George Inness (1825-1894) The Lackawanna Valley The Lackawanna Valley (1855)(1855)

– Landscape meditation on relation of man and natureLandscape meditation on relation of man and nature– Harmonious integration of man’s progress and Harmonious integration of man’s progress and

landscapelandscape Unlike Cole: “A work of art does not appeal to the Unlike Cole: “A work of art does not appeal to the

moral sense. Its aim is not to instruct and edify, but moral sense. Its aim is not to instruct and edify, but to awaken an emotion.”to awaken an emotion.”

George Inness,George Inness, The Lackawanna Valley The Lackawanna Valley, 1855, 1855

W. L. Sonntag, W. L. Sonntag, Afternoon on the HudsonAfternoon on the Hudson (1855) (1855)

Albert Bierstadt (1830-1902)Albert Bierstadt (1830-1902) One of first major artists to explore the WestOne of first major artists to explore the West The Rocky Mountains, Lander’s Peak (The Rocky Mountains, Lander’s Peak (1863)1863) A Storm in the Rocky Mountains A Storm in the Rocky Mountains (1866)(1866) Yosemite Valley (Yosemite Valley (1875)1875)

Albert Bierstadt, Albert Bierstadt, The Rocky The Rocky Mountains, Lander's PeakMountains, Lander's Peak,,

18631863

Albert Bierstadt, Albert Bierstadt, A Storm in the Rocky Mountains A Storm in the Rocky Mountains (1866)(1866)

Albert Bierstadt,Albert Bierstadt, Yosemite Valley Yosemite Valley (1875)(1875)

John Quidor (1801-1881) John Quidor (1801-1881)

Not of the Hudson River schoolNot of the Hudson River school Created dreamlike, fanciful interpretations of literary Created dreamlike, fanciful interpretations of literary

scenes scenes Artisan-painter: uses bright, ornamental colorsArtisan-painter: uses bright, ornamental colors

The Return of Rip Van Winkle The Return of Rip Van Winkle (c.1849)(c.1849)

Illustration from Illustration from The PioneersThe Pioneers

Note on SourcesNote on Sources

Among the sources used: Among the sources used: – E. P. Richardson, E. P. Richardson, Painting in AmericaPainting in America– Ellwood C. Parry, Ellwood C. Parry, Art of Thomas ColeArt of Thomas Cole– John K. Howatt, John K. Howatt, The Hudson River and Its The Hudson River and Its

PaintersPainters– General knowledge about Hudson River schoolGeneral knowledge about Hudson River school– Burke, Kant, Longinus Burke, Kant, Longinus – Pictures are mostly from Pictures are mostly from Sandra Sandra Hildreth’sHildreth’s site site

(used with permission)(used with permission)

Web sites on the Hudson River Web sites on the Hudson River SchoolSchool

The The Metropolitan Museum of Art.Metropolitan Museum of Art. Brief discussion of the school from Brief discussion of the school from “I hear America Singing” at “I hear America Singing” at pbs.orgpbs.org Index of Hudson River paintings Index of Hudson River paintings (many images)(many images) The The ArtfactArtfact site site has a brief description of the school and links to many has a brief description of the school and links to many

of the lesser-known painters.of the lesser-known painters. More paintings and links More paintings and links from artlex.comfrom artlex.com The The Albany Institute Albany Institute has images of paintings by Cole, Durand, and has images of paintings by Cole, Durand, and

others.others. Hudson River School entry Hudson River School entry from Wikipedia.from Wikipedia. A A project by Kathleen Hogan (American Studies) project by Kathleen Hogan (American Studies) at the University of at the University of

Virginia discusses Alexis de Tocqueville and the Hudson River School.Virginia discusses Alexis de Tocqueville and the Hudson River School. The The New-York Historical Society site New-York Historical Society site features an essay on the school features an essay on the school

and a description of the museum’s current exhibition on New York and a description of the museum’s current exhibition on New York paintings, which runs through February 2006.paintings, which runs through February 2006.