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From the Headlines About the Artist From the Artist Based on the critics’ comments, what aspects of Albert Bierstadt (1830–1902) is Germany in 1830, Albert Bierstadt Bierstadt’s paintings defined his popularity? best known for capturing majestic moved to Massachusetts when he western landscapes with his was a year old. He demonstrated an paintings of awe-inspiring mountain early interest in art and at the age The striking merit of Bierstadt in his treatment of ranges, vast canyons, and tumbling of twenty-one had his first exhibit Yosemite, as of other western landscapes, lies in his waterfalls. The sheer physical at the New England Art Union in power of grasping distances, handling wide spaces, beauty of the newly explored West Boston. After spending several years truthfully massing huge objects, and realizing splendid is evident in his paintings. Born in studying in Germany at the German atmospheric effects. The success with which he does Art Academy in Düsseldorf, Bierstadt this, and so reproduces the noblest aspects of grand returned to the United States. ALBERT BIERSTADT scenery, filling the mind of the spectator with the very (1830–1902) sentiment of the original, is the proof of his genius. A great adventurer with a pioneering California Spring, 1875 Oil on canvas, 54¼ x 84¼ in. There are others who are more literal, who realize details spirit, Bierstadt joined Frederick W. Lander’s Military Expeditionary Presented to the City and County of more carefully, who paint figures and animals better, San Francisco by Gordon Blanding force, traveling west on the overland who finish more smoothly; but none except Church, and 1941.6 he in a different manner, is so happy as Bierstadt in the wagon route from Saint Joseph, Watkins Yosemite Art Gallery, San Francisco. Missouri, to the Pacific Coast. This treatment of the heroic style of landscapes peculiar to Nassau Harbor, ca. 1877. Oil on paper Albert Bierstadt, c. 1873. Cabinet card. America. Some of his smallest oil sketches in Yosemite mounted on paperboard, 14¾ x 20 in. Fine was one of numerous western Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center, Arts Museums of San Francisco, museum trips he would take during his life, Fremont, Ohio give a better idea of its vast dimensions than even the Writing to an East Coast audience during his first sojourn west to the Rocky purchase, Mildred Anna Williams Collection, including a winter spent in the snow superb photographs of Watkins, or the most carefully 1961.22 Mountains, in 1859, Bierstadt stated: finished paintings of other artists. in Yosemite Valley and a trip to Bierstadt’s expansive paintings of the Farallones Islands, off of San the Rocky Mountains, Colorado, If you can form any idea of the scenery of the Rocky Mountains and of our life B. P. Avery, “Art Beginnings on the Pacific,” Part II,Overland Monthly Francisco, documenting marine and Yosemite Valley were created Albert Bierstadt’s “studio,” in this region, from what I have to write, I shall be very glad; there is indeed 1872. Stereograph by Eadweard and Out West Magazine (San Francisco) 1, no. 2 (August 1868): page 114. life there. Bierstadt slept under on large canvases ranging in size enough to write about—a writing lover of nature and Art could not wish for Muybridge. The Bancroft Library, the open sky, rode a pony, and from seven to fifteen feet wide. He University of California Berkeley a better subject. I am delighted with the scenery. The mountains are very traveled by covered wagon, carrying was enormously successful, his fine; as seen from the plains they resemble very much the Bernese Alps, As the time for the opening of the Annual Exhibition of the National a Bowie knife in his belt. During audiences and patrons eager to one of the finest ranges of mountains in Europe, if not in the world. They are Academy of Design approaches, the greatest activity is apparent on the part this surveying trip he carried his oil learn about the West. His paintings of a granite formation, the same as the Swiss mountains, and their jagged of the artists in making preparations for the event. Mr. Albert Bierstadt, of paints, pencils, and sketching paper, sold from $5,000 to $25,000, very summits, covered with snow and mingling with the clouds, present a scene the landscape-painters, is at work on one of the largest pictures, probably, creating hundreds of sketches large sums during this time period. which every lover of landscape would gaze upon with unqualified delight. As which will appear in the exhibition, a view of “The Sacramento Valley in Early along the way. When he returned to Bierstadt continued a lifelong you approach them, the lower hills present themselves more or less clothed Spring.” The valley, at the point selected for the picture, is broad, and, with New York he used his sketches to devotion to his painting, receiving with a great variety of trees, among which may be found the cotton-wood, its scattered groves and isolated trees, resembles a grand old park; and this paint the rugged terrain, including numerous awards and honors in the lining the river banks, the aspen, and several species of the fir and the pine, effect is heightened by the alternate patches of wild-flowers which show enormous mountains, canyons, United States and in Europe. some of them being very beautiful. And such a charming grouping of rocks, on the greensward. Every traveller in California has noticed the richness and rivers, which he enlarged to fit Sunlight and Shadow, 1862. Oil on canvas, so fine in color—more so than any I ever saw. Artists would be delighted with and variety of its floral vegetation in early spring, and in the delineation of 39 x 32½ in. Fine Arts Museums of San his vision of a grand and dominant Gail Siegel, Education Consultant, Francisco, gift of Mr. and Mrs. John D. Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco them—were it not for the tormenting swarms of mosquitoes. In the valleys, this character of the landscape Mr. Bierstadt has given a truthful study. This natural world. Rockefeller 3rd, 1979.7.10 What images shape silvery streams abound, with mossy rocks and an abundance of that finny feature, however, is a minor incident, as the great strength of the work lies tribe that we all delight so much to catch, the trout. We see many spots in in its broad and masterly perspective, and in the passing shower which your understanding of the scenery that remind us of our New Hampshire or Catskill hills, but when is drifting over the right foreground. The introduction of this feature gives we look up and measure the mighty perpendicular cliffs that rise hundreds of additional force to the effect of light and shade which appears in masses COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS feet aloft, all capped with snow, we then realize that we are among a different here and there upon the landscape. In the distance there is a glimpse of the class of mountains. spires of Sacramento, but otherwise the vista is devoid of inhabitants as it 1. How would you describe the influence of travel on this artist? was during the period of Spanish occupation. Albert Bierstadt, “Dear Crayon,” July 10, 1859, printed in The Crayon 2. Write about how the concepts of “Eden” and “Manifest Destiny” are reflected in California Spring. (September 1859): page 287. “New-York Studio Notes,” The Art Journal (April 1875): page 124. 3. Why does this artist portray landscape without signs of civilization, such as human life or buildings? 4. What elements of symbolism and Dutch landscape painting are shown in this image? Education Department, FAMSF, 2008 siteinsight From the Headlines About the Artist From the Artist Based on the critics’ comments, what aspects of Albert Bierstadt (1830–1902) is Germany in 1830, Albert Bierstadt Bierstadt’s paintings defined his popularity? best known for capturing majestic moved to Massachusetts when he western landscapes with his was a year old. He demonstrated an paintings of awe-inspiring mountain early interest in art and at the age The striking merit of Bierstadt in his treatment of ranges, vast canyons, and tumbling of twenty-one had his first exhibit Yosemite, as of other western landscapes, lies in his waterfalls. The sheer physical at the New England Art Union in power of grasping distances, handling wide spaces, beauty of the newly explored West Boston. After spending several years truthfully massing huge objects, and realizing splendid is evident in his paintings. Born in studying in Germany at the German atmospheric effects. The success with which he does Art Academy in Düsseldorf, Bierstadt this, and so reproduces the noblest aspects of grand returned to the United States. ALBERT BIERSTADT scenery, filling the mind of the spectator with the very (1830–1902) sentiment of the original, is the proof of his genius. A great adventurer with a pioneering California Spring, 1875 Oil on canvas, 54¼ x 84¼ in. There are others who are more literal, who realize details spirit, Bierstadt joined Frederick W. Lander’s Military Expeditionary Presented to the City and County of more carefully, who paint figures and animals better, San Francisco by Gordon Blanding force, traveling west on the overland who finish more smoothly; but none except Church, and 1941.6 he in a different manner, is so happy as Bierstadt in the wagon route from Saint Joseph, Watkins Yosemite Art Gallery, San Francisco. Missouri, to the Pacific Coast. This treatment of the heroic style of landscapes peculiar to Nassau Harbor, ca. 1877. Oil on paper Albert Bierstadt, c. 1873. Cabinet card. America.