Floor plan

Style galleriesHudson River School

Hudson River School

Niagara Falls by Moonlight, by Frederic Edwin Church, probably 1856
The Aegean Sea, by Frederic Edwin Church, ca. 1877
Above Tower Falls, Yellowstone, by Thomas Moran, 1872
MT. KATAHDIN FROM SOUTH TURNER MOUNTAIN, MAINE
Near Ariccia, Italy, by Sanford Robinson Gifford, 1868
Lake George, by John Frederick Kensett, 1869

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. Niagara Falls by Moonlight, by Frederic Edwin Church, probably 1856
    Niagara Falls by MoonlightFrederic Edwin Church, probably 1856Courtesy of the Cleveland 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
  3. Above Tower Falls, Yellowstone, by Thomas Moran, 1872
    Above Tower Falls, YellowstoneThomas Moran, 1872Courtesy of the Smithsonian American Art Museum

Section 1, south wall

  1. MT. KATAHDIN FROM SOUTH TURNER MOUNTAIN, MAINE
    Mt. Katahdin from South Turner Mountain, MaineFrederic Edwin Church, 1877–78Courtesy of Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum
  2. Near Ariccia, Italy, by Sanford Robinson Gifford, 1868
    Near Ariccia, ItalySanford Robinson Gifford, 1868Courtesy of the Smithsonian American Art Museum
  3. Lake George, by John Frederick Kensett, 1869
    Lake GeorgeJohn Frederick Kensett, 1869Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Section 2, south wall

  1. 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
  2. THE TETONS, SHOWN FROM THE PLAIN
    The Tetons, Shown from the PlainThomas Moran, August 28, 1879Courtesy of Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum
  3. CENTURY PLANT, JAMAICA
    Century Plant, JamaicaFrederic Edwin Church, May–September 1865Courtesy 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

Section 2, north wall

  1. Mountains in Colorado, by John Frederick Kensett, 1870
    Mountains in ColoradoJohn Frederick Kensett, 1870Courtesy of the Smithsonian American Art Museum
  2. View near Newport, by John Frederick Kensett, 1860s
    View near NewportJohn Frederick Kensett, 1860sCourtesy of the Cleveland Museum of Art
  3. NEAR MEADOW CREEK, UTAH
    Near Meadow Creek, UtahThomas Moran, July 25, 1871Courtesy of Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum
  4. Albert Bierstadt
    Gathering StormAlbert Bierstadt, (c. 1857-1858)Courtesy of the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Smithsonian Institution

Section 3, north wall

  1. Eaton's Neck, Long Island, by John Frederick Kensett, 1872
    Eaton's Neck, Long IslandJohn Frederick Kensett, 1872Courtesy 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