Frederic Edwin Church was a primary figure in American art as a member of the Hudson River School, a group of American artists from the Hudson River Valley in New York who painted landscape scenes in the 19th century. This marked one of the first times a group of American artists devoted themselves to painting landscapes instead of portraiture.
Artists like Thomas Doughty and Thomas Cole were entranced by the grandeur of Niagara Falls and other natural wonders in America. The works of these artists displayed a new concept of wilderness where man is portrayed as an insignificant intrusion on a landscape more handsome than harsh.
Church's fame rests primarily upon his grandiose depictions of exotic, local and foreign scenery. 'View of the Hudson River Valley from Olana' is a scene taken from Olana, one of Church's estates in the Hudson River Valley.
With its red and golden hues, the painting reflects the affinity for the fall season shared by many of the Hudson River School painters, who were captivated by the autumnal intensities of nature's color. The majestic sweeping view of New York's Hudson River Valley seems like a glimpse of paradise, untouched by human hands.
Purchased by BYU in 1962, the work is an important piece in the museum's American art collection. The museum owns many other works by important Hudson River School artists, and Museum of Art curators consider these works the jewel of the museum's collection. 'View of the Hudson River Valley from Olana' and many other Hudson River School artists' paintings are on display at the Museum of Art in the 'American Dreams' exhibit.
This is part of a bi-weekly series featuring a piece from the Museum of Art.