Floor plan

Style galleriesRomanticism

Romanticism

Musidora, by Thomas Sully, 1813–35
Four women with musical instruments lounge in a massive garden courtyard.
Washington Reviewing the Western Army at Fort Cumberland, Maryland, by Frederick Kemmelmeyer, after 1795
George Washington, by Charles Peale Polk, ca. 1790
We look across and down at a channel of water separating two landmasses labeled "Boston" and "Charles Town" in this horizontal landscape painting. Four three-masted ships are in the aquamarine-blue harbor between us and the land. Three of them have their sails unfurled and smoke billows from the broad, starboard side of each. Tidy rows of brown houses line the area of Boston. A puff of white smoke rises from the farthest point. Two arrow-shaped missiles, perhaps projectiles on fire, arc toward Charles Town, where billowing gray plumes of smoke rise from vivid orange fire on the far side of the landmass. Rowboats bring soldiers to the shore of Charles Town, close to where hundreds of soldiers line up and fire at each other. Much of the rest of Charles Town is a hill leading to sheer cliffs to our right. Tan and gray-colored smoke mixes among bright white clouds against a pale blue sky on the top half of the painting.
Peaceable Kingdom, by Edward Hicks, ca. 1830–32
Fur Traders Descending the Missouri, by George Caleb Bingham, 1845

The works in this room are listed below.

Works in this room

Sublime landscapes, storms and feeling, from about 1780 to 1850.

Section 1, north wall

  1. Musidora, by Thomas Sully, 1813–35
    MusidoraThomas Sully, 1813–35Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art
  2. Four women with musical instruments lounge in a massive garden courtyard.
    The Interior of the Palm House on the Pfaueninsel Near PotsdamCarl Blechen, 1834Courtesy of the Art Institute of Chicago
  3. Washington Reviewing the Western Army at Fort Cumberland, Maryland, by Frederick Kemmelmeyer, after 1795
    Washington Reviewing the Western Army at Fort Cumberland, MarylandFrederick Kemmelmeyer, after 1795Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Section 1, south wall

  1. George Washington, by Charles Peale Polk, ca. 1790
    George WashingtonCharles Peale Polk, ca. 1790Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art
  2. We look across and down at a channel of water separating two landmasses labeled "Boston" and "Charles Town" in this horizontal landscape painting. Four three-masted ships are in the aquamarine-blue harbor between us and the land. Three of them have their sails unfurled and smoke billows from the broad, starboard side of each. Tidy rows of brown houses line the area of Boston. A puff of white smoke rises from the farthest point. Two arrow-shaped missiles, perhaps projectiles on fire, arc toward Charles Town, where billowing gray plumes of smoke rise from vivid orange fire on the far side of the landmass. Rowboats bring soldiers to the shore of Charles Town, close to where hundreds of soldiers line up and fire at each other. Much of the rest of Charles Town is a hill leading to sheer cliffs to our right. Tan and gray-colored smoke mixes among bright white clouds against a pale blue sky on the top half of the painting.
    Attack on Bunker's Hill, with the Burning of Charles TownUnrecorded American maker, 1783 or afterCourtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington
  3. Peaceable Kingdom, by Edward Hicks, ca. 1830–32
    Peaceable KingdomEdward Hicks, ca. 1830–32Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art
  4. Fur Traders Descending the Missouri, by George Caleb Bingham, 1845
    Fur Traders Descending the MissouriGeorge Caleb Bingham, 1845Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Section 2, south wall

  1. Elijah Boardman, by Ralph Earl, 1789
    Elijah BoardmanRalph Earl, 1789Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art
  2. Captain John Gell, by Gilbert Stuart, 1785
    Captain John GellGilbert Stuart, 1785Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Section 2, north wall

  1. The Alling Children, by Oliver Tarbell Eddy, ca. 1839
    The Alling ChildrenOliver Tarbell Eddy, ca. 1839Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art
  2. This painting shows a woman in a tan dress and a tan hat with red flowers, walking on a grassy shoreline, holding a dark purple umbrella. The woman is positioned in the center of the painting, and she faces the left, standing at the edge of the water, looking downward. She has light skin and dark hair put up under her hat. The horizon is high in the painting, where the blue-gray sky and water meet. Small ships are visible in the distance, floating on the horizon. On the right side of the painting, the yellow and green ground curves, sloping slightly downward to meet the water. The painting has loose, visible brushstrokes.
    Woman by the SeasideUnrecorded French maker, 19th centuryCourtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington
  3. Landscape—Scene from "Thanatopsis", by Asher Brown Durand, 1850
    Landscape—Scene from "Thanatopsis"Asher Brown Durand, 1850Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Section 3, north wall

  1. The Falls of Niagara, by Edward Hicks, ca. 1825
    The Falls of NiagaraEdward Hicks, ca. 1825Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art
  2. Panoramic View of the Palace and Gardens of Versailles, by John Vanderlyn, 1818–19
    Panoramic View of the Palace and Gardens of VersaillesJohn Vanderlyn, 1818–19Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Section 3, south wall

  1. The image shows a large cut watermelon in a woven basket surrounded by various fruits including grapes, peaches, and small round red fruits. The color palette includes greens, blues, oranges, and browns. The basket takes up most of the space and is filled with fruits, with grape clusters hanging above it.
    Fruit on a TrayUnrecorded American maker, c. 1840Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington
  2. Queen Victoria, by Thomas Sully, 1838
    Queen VictoriaThomas Sully, 1838Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art