National Gallery of Art: works from the Corcoran Collection

 The final stop was a walk through a series of galleries with a mix of National Gallery and Corcoran Gallery works from the American 19th century collections.  It was so nice to see these old "friends".  Ever since the National Gallery absorbed the over 2,000 works from the defunct Corcoran Gallery, what was once easily accessible, became hidden in storage.  

"The Departure," 1837

Thomas Cole, 1801 - 1848

DETAIL: "The Departure"

"The Return," 1837

Thomas Cole, 1801 - 1848

DETAIL: "The Return"

"Niagara," 1857

Frederic Edwin Church, 1826 - 1900

This image of North America's most famous waterfall was an iconic part of the Corcoran Collection.

The works of Albert Bierstadt (1830 - 1902) were an integral part of the Corcoran Collection.  None more pronounced than this gorgeous reproduction from his visit to Mount Corcoran in the Sierra Nevada Mountains on California.  Bierstadt made copious drawing and oil and watercolor sketches during his visit to the western United States.  Then he spent years recreating these images from those notes and sketches and his memory.  The results are resplendent with details and ignited the imaginations of his admirers and collections back in the east.  Most of his paintings are momunmental in size as well: six feet tall, 10..12 feet wide.  They were meant to be displayed in public spaces.

"Mount Corcoran," 1876 - 1877

Albert Bierstadt, 1830 - 1902

DETAIL: "Mount Corcoran"

DETAIL: "Mount Corcoran"

I mean, just look at the translucency of the water!  It's stunning.

"Buffalo Trail: The Impending Storm," 1869

Albert Bierstadt, 1830 - 1902

DETAIL: "Buffalo Trail: The Impending Storm"

The drama implicit in this painting is the very essence of the "sublime".  The idea that nature is both inspiring and every threatening.  Beginning with the Hudson School and moving forward thought-out the 19th century, this concept was a favorable pursuit in the design and execution of works of art that depicted the natural world.  

"Simpton Pass," 1911

John Singer Sargent, 1856 - 1925

In my humble opinion, John Singer Sargent is one of the greatest artists ever.  The complexity of this genius even comes through on this relatively innocuous work.  

"Mount Monadnock," circa 1911 - 1914

Abbott Handerson Thayer, 1849 - 1921