Page 34 - Antiques and Collectibles September 2019 Historic Hudson Valley
P. 34
W ith the onset of the industrial revolution in the United States, the ecosystem of
the rugged landscape across the country appeared to be lost in the face of
progress. The expansion of manufacturing was affecting what was once a pristine,
breathtaking view of the American Wilderness. Fine artists, writers, musicians, and
craftspeople gathered together and formed Artist Colonies to declare that the beauty and
bounty of the land should be preserved and appreciated. These groups sprang up along the
Hudson and helped to establish the Hudson River School aesthetic that forged one of the
most influential approaches to capturing nature on the canvas in all its glory.
Palenville
America’s first art colony hosted the artists
of the fledgling Hudson River School as early
as the 1820s, including Thomas Cole,
Frederick Church, and William Cullen
Bryant. Numerous waterfalls, amazing views,
and close proximity to Thomas Cole’s home
ensured a colony drawn together by nature
and deep amazement at what this wilderness
offered the creative mind. You may know this
colony’s name as the fictional home of Rip
Van Winkle. The 19th century in Palenville Old Studio of Artist Hall Palenville, NY
marked the birth of landscape painting pro-
duced in a realistic, all-encompassing style alongside writers James Fennimore Cooper and
Washington Irving, who put their creatively-opened minds and thoughts to paper.
Palenville nests right by one of the most-oft-painted sites, the Kaaterskill Clove, or
“cleft,” within the Catskills. According to the Hudson River School Art Trail, “The clove
was of such importance to these painters that Durand chose it as the setting for the painting
Kindred Spirits, his tribute to Thomas Cole with poet William Cullen Bryant.”
Kindred Spirits by Asher Durand, 1849
I
they did, and watch the
fine art. I recently saw a magnificent exhibit at light work its magic
Walking am a huge fan of the Hudson River School The view looking West
the Wadsworth Atheneum in Hartford, across the hills.
the Walk Connecticut, of Frederic Church’s work from his The Hudson River
trip to the Middle East and my jaw did not come up Skywalk is literally a
from the floor until I left. As an amateur painter chance for anyone to
who leans toward realism, the Hudson River School witness the views Cole
is what I would love to be able to emulate because and Church took for
there is such mastery of form and design, such color inspiration. While the
and depth, such light and grace given, that I would map shows how their two
love to be able to reflect what I see as beauty in
homes are connected, this
nature on my own canvas in this way. was not a quick walk to be
When we decided upon taken on lightly as it is three miles in length one-way and
dedicating the editorial section A marker along the Skywalk requires a good set of walking shoes and perhaps a walking
with Judy Gonyeau of this issue to the Hudson stick (and plenty of water) to traverse.
River region, I knew I would The extra hiking required to reach Olana on the East
take the journey to where the side was a bit more than we wanted to do in 90-degree
first American Art style began – weather, so my husband and I parked closer to the bridge.
the Catskills. I decided to make We reached the bridge in no time at which point I stopped
the trek across the Hudson to observe the beauty around me. As I continued forward I
River between the homes of was determined to try and take it all in because I was finally
Thomas Cole and Frederic witnessing what was once The Frontier of our country.
Church (called “Olana”)— Looking from Church’s view, to our right were the
Founder and Student—to see Catskill Mountains, to the left at the top of the hill sat
what they saw, breathe the air Olana. In front of us was a 5,000-foot long cantilever
Journal of Antiques and Collectibles
32
the rugged landscape across the country appeared to be lost in the face of
progress. The expansion of manufacturing was affecting what was once a pristine,
breathtaking view of the American Wilderness. Fine artists, writers, musicians, and
craftspeople gathered together and formed Artist Colonies to declare that the beauty and
bounty of the land should be preserved and appreciated. These groups sprang up along the
Hudson and helped to establish the Hudson River School aesthetic that forged one of the
most influential approaches to capturing nature on the canvas in all its glory.
Palenville
America’s first art colony hosted the artists
of the fledgling Hudson River School as early
as the 1820s, including Thomas Cole,
Frederick Church, and William Cullen
Bryant. Numerous waterfalls, amazing views,
and close proximity to Thomas Cole’s home
ensured a colony drawn together by nature
and deep amazement at what this wilderness
offered the creative mind. You may know this
colony’s name as the fictional home of Rip
Van Winkle. The 19th century in Palenville Old Studio of Artist Hall Palenville, NY
marked the birth of landscape painting pro-
duced in a realistic, all-encompassing style alongside writers James Fennimore Cooper and
Washington Irving, who put their creatively-opened minds and thoughts to paper.
Palenville nests right by one of the most-oft-painted sites, the Kaaterskill Clove, or
“cleft,” within the Catskills. According to the Hudson River School Art Trail, “The clove
was of such importance to these painters that Durand chose it as the setting for the painting
Kindred Spirits, his tribute to Thomas Cole with poet William Cullen Bryant.”
Kindred Spirits by Asher Durand, 1849
I
they did, and watch the
fine art. I recently saw a magnificent exhibit at light work its magic
Walking am a huge fan of the Hudson River School The view looking West
the Wadsworth Atheneum in Hartford, across the hills.
the Walk Connecticut, of Frederic Church’s work from his The Hudson River
trip to the Middle East and my jaw did not come up Skywalk is literally a
from the floor until I left. As an amateur painter chance for anyone to
who leans toward realism, the Hudson River School witness the views Cole
is what I would love to be able to emulate because and Church took for
there is such mastery of form and design, such color inspiration. While the
and depth, such light and grace given, that I would map shows how their two
love to be able to reflect what I see as beauty in
homes are connected, this
nature on my own canvas in this way. was not a quick walk to be
When we decided upon taken on lightly as it is three miles in length one-way and
dedicating the editorial section A marker along the Skywalk requires a good set of walking shoes and perhaps a walking
with Judy Gonyeau of this issue to the Hudson stick (and plenty of water) to traverse.
River region, I knew I would The extra hiking required to reach Olana on the East
take the journey to where the side was a bit more than we wanted to do in 90-degree
first American Art style began – weather, so my husband and I parked closer to the bridge.
the Catskills. I decided to make We reached the bridge in no time at which point I stopped
the trek across the Hudson to observe the beauty around me. As I continued forward I
River between the homes of was determined to try and take it all in because I was finally
Thomas Cole and Frederic witnessing what was once The Frontier of our country.
Church (called “Olana”)— Looking from Church’s view, to our right were the
Founder and Student—to see Catskill Mountains, to the left at the top of the hill sat
what they saw, breathe the air Olana. In front of us was a 5,000-foot long cantilever
Journal of Antiques and Collectibles
32
