Floor plan

East wing: The Nineteenth CenturyThe Hudson River School

The Hudson River School

Albert Bierstadt
Niagara Falls by Moonlight, by Frederic Edwin Church, probably 1856
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.
The Parthenon, by Frederic Edwin Church, 1871
The Valley of Wyoming, by Jasper Francis Cropsey, 1865
Near Ariccia, Italy, by Sanford Robinson Gifford, 1868
Above Tower Falls, Yellowstone, by Thomas Moran, 1872

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. Albert Bierstadt
    Gathering StormAlbert Bierstadt, (c. 1857-1858)Courtesy of the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Smithsonian Institution
  2. Niagara Falls by Moonlight, by Frederic Edwin Church, probably 1856
    Niagara Falls by MoonlightFrederic Edwin Church, probably 1856Courtesy of the Cleveland Museum of Art
  3. 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
  4. The Parthenon, by Frederic Edwin Church, 1871
    The ParthenonFrederic Edwin Church, 1871Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Section 1, south 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. Near Ariccia, Italy, by Sanford Robinson Gifford, 1868
    Near Ariccia, ItalySanford Robinson Gifford, 1868Courtesy of the Smithsonian American Art Museum
  3. Above Tower Falls, Yellowstone, by Thomas Moran, 1872
    Above Tower Falls, YellowstoneThomas Moran, 1872Courtesy of the Smithsonian American Art Museum

Section 2, south wall

  1. Lake George, by John Frederick Kensett, 1869
    Lake GeorgeJohn Frederick Kensett, 1869Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art
  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

Section 2, north wall

  1. The Rocky Mountains, Lander's Peak, by Albert Bierstadt, 1863
    The Rocky Mountains, Lander's PeakAlbert Bierstadt, 1863Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art
  2. The Aegean Sea, by Frederic Edwin Church, ca. 1877
    The Aegean SeaFrederic Edwin Church, ca. 1877Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Section 3, north wall

  1. View of Florence, by Thomas Cole, 1837
    View of FlorenceThomas Cole, 1837Courtesy of the Cleveland Museum of Art
  2. 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

Section 3, south wall

  1. ITALIAN FARMHOUSE
    Italian FarmhouseFrederic Edwin Church, September 1868 - April 1869Courtesy of Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum
  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. CENTURY PLANT, JAMAICA
    Century Plant, JamaicaFrederic Edwin Church, May–September 1865Courtesy of Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum