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.