1868

Landscape

American, 1825 - 1894

This autumn pastoral depicting New York’s Hudson River Valley was painted nearly two decades after Inness’s first trip abroad. It nevertheless shows a degree of continuity with his earlier work in both subject and style, including its fine detail, controlled brushwork, and wide palette. Although his foreign subjects sold well, Inness struggled with his American views, which may explain this painting’s more retrospective aesthetic. The year he painted it Inness was elected to full membership in the nation’s leading art association, the National Academy of Design. The Academy was controlled by the Hudson River School artists, whose style the painting favors and whose art continued to dominate the American market.