Floor plan

Style galleriesHudson River School

Hudson River School

The Parthenon, by Frederic Edwin Church, 1871
This painting features a landscape with a calm body of water dominating the lower portion. The view is slightly elevated, overlooking the water that reflects the surrounding greenery and sky. Two white swans glide on the river, which is surrounded by green trees and shrubs. In the distance, a large tan castle with multiple towers and crenellations stands above the trees. In front of the castle, on the right side of the painting, a smaller structure with white walls and red roofs sits, surrounded by greenery. One or two people appear to sit out in front of it, and on the right sheep lay in the soft green grass. The color palette includes deep greens, soft browns, and varying shades of blue.
View near Newport, by John Frederick Kensett, 1860s
NEAR MEADOW CREEK, UTAH
This painting shows a view looking out over a vast landscape. Most of the painting is circular, with a small part of the bottom bleeding out of the circle towards us. The top third of the circle shows a mountain range with a large purple peak in the distance. In front of the mountain is a faint rainbow. A body of water flows from in front of the mountain to the bottom of the painting, weaving in between shorter white peaks. Towards the bottom, the water appears to flow into small, layered pools of various bright colors including yellow, orange, red, pink, blue, and teal. The sky is a light blue-gray color. The background of the painting outside of the circle is plain paper.
View from Mount Holyoke, Northampton, Massachusetts, after a Thunderstorm—The Oxbow, by Thomas Cole, 1836
Niagara Falls by Moonlight, by Frederic Edwin Church, probably 1856

The works in this room are listed below.

Works in this room

American landscape painters of the mid-1800s who made wilderness their grand subject.

Section 1, north wall

  1. The Parthenon, by Frederic Edwin Church, 1871
    The ParthenonFrederic Edwin Church, 1871Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art
  2. This painting features a landscape with a calm body of water dominating the lower portion. The view is slightly elevated, overlooking the water that reflects the surrounding greenery and sky. Two white swans glide on the river, which is surrounded by green trees and shrubs. In the distance, a large tan castle with multiple towers and crenellations stands above the trees. In front of the castle, on the right side of the painting, a smaller structure with white walls and red roofs sits, surrounded by greenery. One or two people appear to sit out in front of it, and on the right sheep lay in the soft green grass. The color palette includes deep greens, soft browns, and varying shades of blue.
    Warwick Castle, EnglandJasper Francis Cropsey, 1857Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington
  3. View near Newport, by John Frederick Kensett, 1860s
    View near NewportJohn Frederick Kensett, 1860sCourtesy of the Cleveland Museum of Art

Section 1, south wall

  1. NEAR MEADOW CREEK, UTAH
    Near Meadow Creek, UtahThomas Moran, July 25, 1871Courtesy of Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum
  2. This painting shows a view looking out over a vast landscape. Most of the painting is circular, with a small part of the bottom bleeding out of the circle towards us. The top third of the circle shows a mountain range with a large purple peak in the distance. In front of the mountain is a faint rainbow. A body of water flows from in front of the mountain to the bottom of the painting, weaving in between shorter white peaks. Towards the bottom, the water appears to flow into small, layered pools of various bright colors including yellow, orange, red, pink, blue, and teal. The sky is a light blue-gray color. The background of the painting outside of the circle is plain paper.
    Minerva Terrace, YellowstoneThomas Moran, 1872Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington
  3. View from Mount Holyoke, Northampton, Massachusetts, after a Thunderstorm—The Oxbow, by Thomas Cole, 1836
    View from Mount Holyoke, Northampton, Massachusetts, after a Thunderstorm—The OxbowThomas Cole, 1836Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art
  4. Niagara Falls by Moonlight, by Frederic Edwin Church, probably 1856
    Niagara Falls by MoonlightFrederic Edwin Church, probably 1856Courtesy of the Cleveland Museum of Art

Section 2, south wall

  1. View of Florence, by Thomas Cole, 1837
    View of FlorenceThomas Cole, 1837Courtesy of the Cleveland Museum of Art
  2. The painting depicts a tranquil lake scene with a low horizon line showing a pale green hill in the background under a pale, cloudy sky. Closer to us, on the right, there is a large, textured rock surrounded by greenery and red flowers. In the distance, a wooden dock extends into the lake on the left, and a person wearing red appears to sit or stand with their back to us.
    Landing at Sabbath Day PointJohn Frederick Kensett, c. 1853Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington

Section 2, north wall

  1. The Valley of Wyoming, by Jasper Francis Cropsey, 1865
    The Valley of WyomingJasper Francis Cropsey, 1865Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art
  2. The Pilgrim of the Cross at the End of His Journey (study for series, The Cross and the World), by Thomas Cole, ca. 1846-1848
    The Pilgrim of the Cross at the End of His Journey (study for series, The Cross and the World)Thomas Cole, ca. 1846-1848Courtesy of the Smithsonian American Art Museum
  3. Eaton's Neck, Long Island, by John Frederick Kensett, 1872
    Eaton's Neck, Long IslandJohn Frederick Kensett, 1872Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Section 3, north wall

  1. CENTURY PLANT, JAMAICA
    Century Plant, JamaicaFrederic Edwin Church, May–September 1865Courtesy of Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum
  2. Mountains in Colorado, by John Frederick Kensett, 1870
    Mountains in ColoradoJohn Frederick Kensett, 1870Courtesy of the Smithsonian American Art Museum
  3. ITALIAN FARMHOUSE
    Italian FarmhouseFrederic Edwin Church, September 1868 - April 1869Courtesy of Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum
  4. AMERICAN PLAINS WITH MOUNTAIN RANGE IN THE DISTANCE
    American Plains with Mountain Range in the DistanceThomas Moran, before 1872Courtesy of Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum