A Swiss Lake
Medium
Painting
Classification
Painting
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase
Accession Number
1978.70
Tags
Art Historical Context
**A Swiss Lake** by Daniel, painted in 1849, invites visitors into a picturesque Swiss landscape at the Smithsonian American Art Museum This enchanting painting captures a tranquil lakeside scene framed by the towering Alps and the distinctive silhouette of Mount Pilatus. group of figures animates the foreground, evoking the leisurely spirit of 19th-century travelers exploring Europe's natural wonders. Huntington, an esteemed American artist, created this work during a period when transatlantic journeys fueled Romantic fascination with the sublime Alps. Switzerland's lakes and peaks symbolize...
About the Artist
Daniel Huntington · 1816–1906
Daniel Huntington (1816–1906) was born into a prominent New York family on October 4, 1816, descending from distinguished New England lineage. His early education began at age fourteen at Smith's Academy in New Haven, followed by Yale College, where he studied with Samuel F. B. Morse, the inventor, artist, and president of the National Academy of Design, in 1835. After a disciplinary incident invo...