History

The Impressionists
The Barbizon School and I Macchiaioli helped to form the great movement of the Impressionists. Beginning in France in the 1860’s, with their first show in 1874, the Impressionists rejected the closed system of the academies. They embraced modern life as a theme. Claude Monet and Camille Pissarro were prominent figures in the group. The Impressionists sought to capture the effects of atmosphere, basing their art on the science of color and light. Most of their work was painted outdoors in a few hours time. For larger works, they would return to the same location, at the same time of day, and complete the painting.

The Hudson River School
1830’s – 1900’s.
In America, the expansion in the West beckoned artists to paint these new lands. Collectors were eager to see the wilds of America through their paintings. The first and most notable painters in the Hudson River School were, Thomas Cole and Asher Brown Durand. Later, following in their footsteps, were Frederick Edwin Church, Thomas Hill, Albert Bierstadt and William Keith.

American Impressionism
1870’s – 1920’s.
The Americas were influenced by Impressionism. The first American artists to embrace this new style were John Joseph Enniking, Childe Hassam and Mary Cassat. American Impressionism is a blend of academic training and Impressionist thought. This technique is recognized by more spontaneous brushwork and a lighter palette than the Hudson River School’s style. A few of the painters at the turn of the century defy categorization, John Singer Sargent and William Merritt Chase come to Mind.
1920’s – 2000
20th Century outdoor painters had a unique opportunity to choose whatever style they felt best reflected their belief about painting. Many fine painters worked through the middle of the century. Carl Rungius, Edgar Payne, and John Fabian Carlson are just a few. Contemporary Painters have discovered outdoor painting again. Building on the past, their commitment to works of quality has created a new golden age of painting.