Pg. 81 in notes packet
Art Lesson -
Analyzing Artwork of the Hudson River School
The Hudson River School refers to a group of artists led by Thomas Cole, an
immigrant from England.
Inspired by the natural beauty of New York’s Hudson River Valley and the Adirondack and Catskills Mountains, the artists of the Hudson River School achieved fame by painting romantic landscapes.
Rather than using nature as a mere backdrop for history paintings or portraits, nature took center stage in their canvasses. Their scenes show the power and beauty of America’s wilderness. Human figures were almost dwarfed into insignificance by the majesty and grand proportions of nature.
Traditional painting where people are the focus
vs.Hudson River School
painting where nature is the focus
Battle of Bunker HillJohn Trumbull
1786
Landscape with Figures A Scene from The Last of
the MohicansThomas Cole
1826
Instructions
Fill out the chart as you view the following slides. For each picture, record in the appropriate column the title of the work, the last name of the artist, and the year it was painted. In the 4th column, record what object stands out to you as the prominent landscape feature. In the 5th column, tell what the humans are doing in the painting. (Hint: All but one of the paintings have some human activity.)
The OxbowThomas Cole
1836
Kindred Spirits
Asher Durand
1849
Niagara Frederick Edwin Church
1857
The Oregon TrailAlbert Bierstadt
1867
Cliffs of the Upper Colorado RiverThomas Moran
1882
Movement west into the Louisiana territory and beyond increased during the 1840s. American headed west in search of land and economic opportunity. Do you think the paintings of the Hudson River School might have had an effect on Americans’ desire to move west? Why or why not? Answer this question at the bottom of pg. 81.
Keep this chart in your notes and then complete the reading assignment about Samuel F. B. Morse.