Life and Works of Albert Bierstadt
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This dissertation has been 64—1306 microfilmed exactly as received TRUMP, Richard Shafer, 1922- UFE AND WORKS OF ALBERT BIERSTADT. The Ohio State University, Ph.D., 1963 Fine Arts University Microfilms, Inc., Ann Arbor, Michigan Copyright by Richard Shafer Trump 1964 LIFE AND WORKS OP ALBERT BIERSTàDT DISSERTATION Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy in the Graduate School of The Ohio S tate U niversity By RICHARD SHAFER TRUMP, B. F. A ., M. F. A. The Ohio S tate U niversity 1963 Approved by: Sidney MyMy Kaplan Kaplan y School of P i ^ & Applied Arts PLEASE NOTE: This is a poor carbon copy. Best available copy. Filmed as received. University Microfilms, Inc. ÂCKNCfWLSiXa!£N1S I wish to acknowledge my indebtedness to Dr. Frank Seiberling, State University of Iowa, whose course in American Art History first introduced me to the paintings of Albert Bierstadt; to Dr. Franklin Ludden, Dr. Glenn Patton, and Professor Robert Ghadeayne, Ohio S tate University, whose teaching and consultation provided guidance; and especially to Dr. Sidney Kaplan, Ohio State University, iqy adviser for the dissertation. Without the letter's patience, encouragement, and criticism this manuscript could not have been written. Although the private collectors and the staff of museums and libraries are too numerable to mention, special recognition should be given to: Hr. Virgil Farrington, Curator of the Old Dartmouth Histori cal Society, Hew Bedford, Massachusetts; the art history division of the Architect's Office of the United States Capitol; the Metropolitan Museum; and particularly the Boston Museum. Without the assistant of Albert Bierstadt's relatives, of course, the use of original source material would have been impossible. I wish to thank Mrs. Joyce Edwards; Mrs. Leon Bascom; Professor Al b ert Morton Turner; and especially Mr. Edward Hale B ierstad t, who not only loaned material, but made gifts to the author of important docu ments and photographs. Mention should be made of the late Miss Rosalie Osborne Mayer and Mr. A. Osborne Mayer, both of whma were responsible for the preservation of Bierstadt memorabilia. i i I also wish to ejqress gratitude to Kiss Helen Aler, Krs. Nancy fiice and Mrs. Helen Kaltenbom for their valuable assistance in type- •writing. last, I acknowledge my sincere appreciation to my wife, Helene, for her faithful assistance in proofreading and most important, for her personal encouragement. I l l C0K2SSÏS Page ÀCKNOWIEDGfiSHIS................... i i LIST OF IILUSmTIONS . ................................................................ v i mmOWGTION....................................................................................... 1 Chapter I. THE MRLI ÏEâfiS (1830-1853) ....................................................... 10 Life in New Bedford .................................................................... 10 jSarly Training and Artistic Activity ................................ 18 I I . IN EUROPE.......................... 30 In DOsseldorf ............................................................................... 30 Up the Rhine and into Sw itzerland ........................................ 39 In I t a l y ...................................................................... 42 I I I . RETURN TO ANERIGA (1 8 5 7 -1 8 6 3 ) ............................... 55 In New Bedford ............................................................................... 55 F irs t Western Tour .................................................................. 62 Return to the East ...................................................................... 69 IV. THE OVFSIANDEiS (1 8 6 3 ) ................................................................... 80 On the P lain s ........................................................... 80 In Search of Buffalo ....................... 88 On to Colorado . 94 In the Rocky M ountains....................................................................102 Across the Rocky M ountains............................................................107 In the Tosemite V alley ....................................................................I l l Into Oregon and along the Columbia River ........ 120 V. ÏEàRS OF SUCCESS (1863-1872) ....................................................... 126 The Rocky M ountains........................................................................126 Storm in the Rocky Mountains........................................................ 134 Domes of the Y osem ite ....................................................................138 Symbols of S u c c e ss................................... 143 i v V In Europe (1867-1369) « . ........................................................ 153 Return to America (1369-1370)................................................. 153 In San Francisco (1871-1372) ................................................ 16$ VI. A DECLINING REPOIATION (1873-1902) 169 The 1870‘s ............................................................................................169 The 1 8 8 0 's ............................................................................................138 The ............................................................................................197 APPENDIX; CATALOGUE ............................................................................ 210 BIBLIOGRAPHY............................................................................................... 227 AUTOBIOGRAPHY............................................................................................235 LIST OF ILLUSmTIOÎB Figure Page 1. Albert bierstadt, photograph (in possession of the author) . 9 2» Cottage near Lake Lucerne, (1856), Courtesy of M. Knoedler and Ccmpany, N. I . C ......................................... « . * 41 3« Italian Costume Studies. (1857)» Courtesy of lyman AUyn Museum, Mew London, Co...................... ..... .......................................44 4. Arch of Octavius, 1858, Courtesy of Boston Museum of Fine A rts, Boston, Mass................................................................................45 5. Capri Beach, (1857), Courtesy of Wadsworth Atheneum, Hartford, Conn ................................................................................... 53 6. TAnriincr of Gosnold at Cuttyhunk, 1858, Courtesy of Old Dartmouth Historical Society and Whaling Museum, New Bedford, Mass ..........................................................................................57 7* Letter from the Secretary of War, April 8, 1859 (in possession of the author) ........................................................... 63 8. Sketches of Indians (No. 1 ), Courtesy of New York Historical Society, N. Ï. C.............................................................. 65 9. Sketches o f Indians (No. 2), Courtesy of New York H isto rical Society, N. Y. C. ........ .... 70 10. Sketch for Sunlight and Shadow, (1855), Courtesy of Newark Museum, Newark, N............................................. J . 72 11. Letter from Headquarters of the Army, October 15» 1861 (in possession of the author) ........................................................75 12. Union svianps hooters Firing on Confederates, 1862, Courtesy of Century Association, N. Y.C......... 77 13. Surveyor's Wagon in the Rockies, Courtesy of City Art Museum, S t. Louis, M o................................................... SL 14..The Oregon Trail (Emigrants Crossing the Plains), Courtesy of American Automobile Association, Cleveland, Ohio ....................................................................................99 v i v ü 1 5 . The Rocky Mountains, 1863, Courtesy of Metropolitan Museum of Art^ N. X. C.......................................................... 125 1 6 . Sunset Light. Wind River Range of the Rocky Mountain s. 1861, Courtesy of Free Public Library, New Bedford, Mass........................................................................................................... 131 1 7. Storm in the Rocky Mountains. I864 , (chromolithograph) Courtesy of Print Division, New York Public Library, N. I . C..................................................................................................... 135 18. Domes of the Yosemite. 1867, Courtesy of St. Johnsbury Athenaeum, S t. Johnsbury, Vt...........................................................139 1 9. Maikasten (exterior), Irvington-on-Hudson, N. Y. Home of Albert Bierstadt, Courtesy of Mrs. Joyce Edwards, Dobbs Ferry, N. Y . ................................. .. ................................ I 46 20. Malkasten (interior), Irvington-on-Hudson, N. Y. Home of Albert Bierstadt, Courtesy of ^ s . Joyce Edwards, Dobbs Ferry, N. Y..................................................................................148 21. Corcoran. 1875, Courtesy of Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington, D. C ................................................................................... 175 22. Rosalie Bierstadt, costumed as Mary, Queen of Scots for the Great Ball of 1876, Ottawa, Canada, Courtesy of Mrs. Joyce Edwards, Dobbs Ferry, N. Y .........................................182 2 3 . Albert Bierstadt, costumed as Charles I for the Great Ball of 1876, Ottawa, Canada, Courtesy of Mrs. Joyce Edwards, Dobbs Ferry, N .Y .................... ....................................183 2 4 . Ihe Last of the Buffalo. (1889), Courte^ of Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington, D. 0 .................................................... 194 2 5 . The Landing of Columbus.