Hudson River School Artists

Hudson River School

Not very many people lived, or were interested in living, in the American West. To increase this expansion and to show that majesty of the wilderness out there, a group of painters known as the Hudson River School got together and painted beautiful scenes of the West to show the beauty of it and the luxury of living in these places. They reflect the land with no worries. You don't see anything that would produce stress because of their purpose. Their paintings are very effective and realistic to the nature state of the mountains, trees, water and so forth. Because of these paintings there became a large increase in the populations, areas are reserved for creating National Parks to preserve those landmarks. They were a large influence.

The Hunter's Return Home

Painter 1: Thomas Cole (1801-1848)

Thomas Cole was the inspiration for the Hudson River School, and organized them together. His work revolved around showing people living and having dwellings in the wilderness. He wanted to portray that Americans actually did live in nature and that people can do it nowadays as well.
For example, this piece entitled The Hunter’s Return Home shows the style of living out in the open west. It is painted as a safe, stress free, and excluded environment. I believe that this way of living has completely different values than the rest of the world. These people value their family, friends and belonging together.

Rainy Season Through the Tropics

Painter 2: Fredrick Church (1826-1900)

Fredrick Church was a central figure in the Hudson River School. In his work he was "always concerned with including a spiritual dimension in his works." Church loved water and the natural recourses, which are apart of close to all of his paintings.

"Rainy Season Through the Tropics" is one of my favorite paintings done by the Hudson River School Artists. Like Church tries to accomplish, it has a spiritual, magestic, bright quality to it. As the double rainbow reflects colors along the rest of the mountain, the water brings in a beautiful natural resource.

Kindred Spirits

Painter 3: Asher Brown Durrand (1796-1886)

Asher was well known for his detail and realism. The way he is able to capture the complete details of a tree or a rock, or any wilderness for that matter, was marveled by many.

One of his most famous works is one that he etched called "The Decloration of Independance". But one that really caught my eye was one that he painted as a tribute to a fellow Hudson River School member and a poet friend that both had passed away. After Thomas Cole and William Bryant had died, the painting "Kindred Spirits" was done. This painting still depicts the same type of style that is done in all of the Hudson River paintings. But this one seems to bring them all together to remember the founder and the whole purpose of the school. It is an incredible tribute.

Decloration of Independance