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108 pieces in the exhibition, all pictured in B&W. Index to artists in the front. 3-Page foreword by Stuart P. Feld, Director of the Gallery of American Art. ARTISTS INCLUDED: John Singleton Copley, John La Farge, Robert Feke, John Haberle, Jonathan Budington, John Wollaston, Samuel King, William Morris Hunt, Edward Potthast, Albert Bierstadt, Thomas Birch, Joseph Blackburn, Charles Wilson Peale, Thomas Eakins, Jefferson David Chalfant, Thomas Cole, George Inness, Winslow Homer, Cosmo Alexander, John Neagle, Felix Darley, and many more. ABOUT THE EXHIBITION: Featured over 100 paintings illustrating the development of art in America over two centuries. Includes Colonial and Federal portraits, Hudson River School landscapes, Victorian genre subjects, trompe l'oeil still lifes, examples of American impressionists, and The Eight, among others. ... Read more

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Nineteenth-century Americans responded to landscape paintings because the subject existed all around them. Unlike paintings of ancient kings or mythic goddesses that in Europe were regarded as the highest achievement but in America were considered frivolous or morally corrupt, the land was a tangible presence, sometimes tranquil and serene, often mysterious and dangerous. Before 1820, depictions of the landscape had essentially served as backgrounds for portraits or as topographic documents. Thomas Cole transformed this "useful" landscape into a transcendental vision, where the hand of God was seen enlivening every aspect of nature. Cole's example opened the eyes of countless talented artists who sought the American soul in the vistas of its landscapes. This quest is vividly brought to life in the paintings included here, by 31 artists who painted in and around the Hudson River in the 19th century. They not only show an America that was, but an America that still exists in the core of our national consciousness. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Nice collection of Hudson River art
Being a big fan of the Hudson River style of painting , I was initially taken aback that this book contained no works by Frederick Church, Thomas Cole, or more of the other leaders of this form of landscape painting.Still, I would up pleasantly surprised to experience the works of many practitioners of this wonderful art that are not household names to a typical museumgoer (like me).

I've always enjoyed this style of art simply because the paintings were so easy to admire.The Hudson River School practitioners were so good at conveying a mood of tranquility (note the title) that arose from the portrayal of the beauty and grandeur of natural surroundings.Almost all the images in this book are little gems:excellent examples of how the American landscape was made significant as a genre of painting in the 1800's.There are almost fifty paintings in this book, published by the Frye Art Museum (a must-see if you're ever in Seattle), which exhibited the works in early 2000.Many of the images are quite small (slight drawback) but nevertheless vivid and detailed enough to hold your eye for a time, especially the ones depicting sunsets.Approximately forty different painters are represented.

Art historian William Kloss wrote the text, which takes up about seven full pages and does an excellent job of tying in the history of the Hudson River School to various historical events and the writings of noteworthy people (e.g., Thoreau).Also, there's an introduction by the book's editor and Director of the Frye, Richard V. West, and a Collector's Statement, by Michel and Victoria J. Herson.For art students, there's a listing of all (I think) the Hudson River art collected by the Hersons, who actually preferred acquiring works from the lesser known artists.Thus, it didn't bother me as much that Cole and Church were not represented here; the collection is what it is.The book is well-constructed, with high quality paper stock, and even though it's not of coffee table size, I think you'll still enjoy admiring the artwork. ... Read more

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This is the first-ever study of an important figure of the second generation of Hudson Valley landscape painters. Worthington Whittredge was active from around 1840 to the turn of the century, and was much influenced by preceding generations of artists so that the evolution of his style serves as an index to the changing concepts of American landscape painting. Moreover his ten-year sojourn in Dusseldorf and Rome allows us to gauge the impact of foreign influences on the native tradition. ... Read more

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This book contains 32 full-color photos of beautifully painted landscapes of the Hudson River Valley and is accompanied by text that discusses how Protestant theology had a profound impact on nineteenth century art and life itself. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Bierstadt book
The book is o.k. but it was not what I was looking for. There wasn't a good description of this book so I just took a chance.I was (and still am)looking for a large coffee table type book that just shows all or at least the vast majority of his work (IN COLOR) and large plates.This book was the story of his entire life and along the way they displayed some of his work however, many of the photos of the prints were in black and white.When you have an artist like Albert Bierstadt who was famous for his use of a rich color palette why on earth would you print the majority of his works in black and white?That was really disappointing.It is an excellent book for someone who is doing research on him but not if you want to see a good archive of his work.


David T.

Vistas Supreme
As explained in this wonderful book of his images of western America, Bierstadt's gift was to portray America at a time before the images reflected were the subject of quality photographs.His abilities to convey the magnificent grandeur of America "speak" for themselves.Hendricks' commentary is most interesting in detailing the biography of this great artist, as he came from Germany to the United States. A plug is called for regarding the Amon Carter Museum in Ft. Worth, which co-published this work and which is a must-see for all who come to the Dallas-Ft. Worth area and are interested in Western art.

Beautiful book examining the works of a poignant American artist
I became introduced to the artist "Albert Bierstadt," in my art history class a few years ago, and I have been a fan of his work ever since.
Having trained in Europe, like many American artists of the 19th century, Bierstadt embarked upon a series of expeditions to the far west of America in his late twenties.It was as if he felt a need to know the full scope of his adopted country before he could settle down and paint.What he discovered on these adventures in the West revealed to him the extraordinary majesty of an untouched America.The west was still a wilderness, where native Americans lived without polluting or disrupting the natural majesty of the land.For those cities in the cities of the East, who, until then had had no concept of what the non-industrialized heartland of their country looked like, Bierstadt's work was astonishing and uplifting.
Bierstadt's paintings of the American wilderness also have an implicit spiritual significance.The land he painted was a paradisiacal world, a world of great simplicity and purity, into which human beings were privileged to enter, and must do so aware of the responsibilities of their inheritance.

The best Bierstadt book out there
It's a shame that this book commands such high prices in used bookstores. It's certainly time for the publisher to reintroduce this fine book for the general book trade. The last few years has seen a resurrgence of interest in the Hudson River School and Bierstatd has always been my favorite American landscape artist. His works are monumental and part and parcel of the American experience. Think about it, before photography, Bierstadt's paintings went on national tour and were extremely popular as people got their first glimpse of the grandeur of Yosemite, the Rocky Mountains, and the Western landscape in general. Sure his works were embellished but only to elevate the subject matter, but in nature these sights transcend the human moment, which you can only describe by seeing it for yourself. ... Read more

Product Description
Now in Paperback

Thomas Cole (1801-1848) is widely considered the founder of the popular Hudson River School of painting. Cole, who emigrated to the United States from England in 1819, awakened a passion for landscape that would characterize American painting throughout the 19th century and change the way Americans, and the world, viewed the young nation.

In a series of breathtaking canvases, painted principally in the Catskill Mountains, Cole portrayed vast spaces, awesome horizons, and vibrant color. Earl A. Powell III, director of the National Gallery of Art, Washington, traces Cole's development and explores the Romantic theories that guided his thinking and informed his vision. Superb color reproductions bring Cole's paintings to life, revealing the America that once was.

EARL A. POWELL III, director of the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., has written articles and exhibition catalogues on American artists of the 19th and 20th centuries, and has curated exhibitions devoted to the art of those periods.

111 illustrations, 67 in full color, 91/2 x 11" ... Read more

Product Description
This is a biography of Thomas Cole, founder of the Hudson River school of landscape painting. The authors present Cole in a broader dimension, painting him as a man deeply concerned with the historical issues of his time. ... Read more