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O/B 'Indian Encampment' Western Amer. School, 19C

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Oil on Board painting 'Indian Encampment' Western American School, 19th century. Painting depicting a mountain range, with a clearing that contains a small Native American Indian encampment. The enormous scale of the mountains is emphasized by the diminutive scale of the native American encampment, seen to the left of the canvas. The subtly modulated pastel tones of the sky are reflected in the background landscape forming a harmonious and well-balanced composition, as well as adding an overwhelming sense of depth to the work.
Work Size: H. 11" x L. 17.75"
Frame Size: H. 16.75" x L. 23.5" x D. 2.5"
Weight: 2lbs 14oz
Condition: good, with good condition period frame. Several small touch up areas on canvas.

From the moment of her discovery, America's history has been dominated by the push westward, mainly in the pursuit of economic prosperity. From the first explorers to later immigrants, all have headed west in search of riches and as a result much of American history and art is dominated by the exploration of her land and, in consequence, her indigenous people. In the search for prosperity America also found her very identity in the topography and magnificent of her landscape.
Fascination with the landscape of the West continued throughout the nineteenth and into the early twentieth century. After the establishment of independence, artists began to respond to the need for a distinctive form of American painting and answer such critics as the Reverend Sydney Smith, who in his 1820 article for the Edinburgh Review, asked: "In the four quarters of the globe, who reads an American book? Or goes to an American play? Or looks at an American picture or statue?" Exploration of America's interior had revealed a wondrous landscape marked by its variety of open plains and majestic mountains. The traditional European academies regarded history painting to be the highest art form, but in America topography was her history as exploration had guided the nation's course.

Condition: good, with good condition period frame. Several small touch up areas on canvas.

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