Floor plan

Style galleriesHudson River School

Hudson River School

Heart of the Andes, by Frederic Edwin Church, 1859
Albert Bierstadt
October in the Marshes, by John Frederick Kensett, 1872
THE TETONS, SHOWN FROM THE PLAIN
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.
Niagara Falls by Moonlight, by Frederic Edwin Church, probably 1856
Twilight in the Wilderness, by Frederic Edwin Church, 1860

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. Heart of the Andes, by Frederic Edwin Church, 1859
    Heart of the AndesFrederic Edwin Church, 1859Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art
  2. Albert Bierstadt
    Gathering StormAlbert Bierstadt, (c. 1857-1858)Courtesy of the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Smithsonian Institution
  3. October in the Marshes, by John Frederick Kensett, 1872
    October in the MarshesJohn Frederick Kensett, 1872Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Section 1, south wall

  1. THE TETONS, SHOWN FROM THE PLAIN
    The Tetons, Shown from the PlainThomas Moran, August 28, 1879Courtesy 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. Niagara Falls by Moonlight, by Frederic Edwin Church, probably 1856
    Niagara Falls by MoonlightFrederic Edwin Church, probably 1856Courtesy of the Cleveland Museum of Art
  4. Twilight in the Wilderness, by Frederic Edwin Church, 1860
    Twilight in the WildernessFrederic Edwin Church, 1860Courtesy of the Cleveland Museum of Art

Section 2, south wall

  1. 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
  2. MT. KATAHDIN FROM SOUTH TURNER MOUNTAIN, MAINE
    Mt. Katahdin from South Turner Mountain, MaineFrederic Edwin Church, 1877–78Courtesy of Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum
  3. ITALIAN FARMHOUSE
    Italian FarmhouseFrederic Edwin Church, September 1868 - April 1869Courtesy of Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum
  4. View near Newport, by John Frederick Kensett, 1860s
    View near NewportJohn Frederick Kensett, 1860sCourtesy of the Cleveland Museum of Art

Section 2, north wall

  1. Near Ariccia, Italy, by Sanford Robinson Gifford, 1868
    Near Ariccia, ItalySanford Robinson Gifford, 1868Courtesy of the Smithsonian American Art Museum
  2. NEAR MEADOW CREEK, UTAH
    Near Meadow Creek, UtahThomas Moran, July 25, 1871Courtesy of Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum
  3. CENTURY PLANT, JAMAICA
    Century Plant, JamaicaFrederic Edwin Church, May–September 1865Courtesy of Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum

Section 3, north wall

  1. Above Tower Falls, Yellowstone, by Thomas Moran, 1872
    Above Tower Falls, YellowstoneThomas Moran, 1872Courtesy of the Smithsonian American Art Museum
  2. 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