Drive from Chocorua to Knowles Pond
September 26, 1879
Medium
landscapes
Classification
landscapes
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Bequest of Erskine Hewitt
Accession Number
1942-50-419-a
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
**Drive from Chocorua Knowles Pond** * Huntington (American, 18161906), September 26, 1879* Step into the serene beauty of New England's White Mountains with Daniel Huntington's *Drive from Chocor to Knowles Pond*, a landscape dated precisely to September 26, 9. Huntington, a prominent American artist and president of the National Academy of, often blended portraiture with scenes of nature, reflecting the 19th-century fascination with the American wilderness. This work likely captures a picturesque journey through New Hampshire's Chocorua region—famed for its dramatic peaks and tranquil ponds—evoking the era's romantic embrace of the sublime landscape. Painted during the waning years of the Hudson River School's influence, the piece highlights Huntington's skill in rendering atmospheric light and expansive vistas, techniques that celebrated national identity amid rapid industrialization. The specific date suggests it may stem from a plein air study or travel sketch, immersing viewers in a momentary snapshot of autumnal splendor. Now housed in the Smithsonian American Art Museum through the bequest of collector Erskine Hewitt, this landscape invites reflection on how artists like Huntington preserved vanishing rural idylls for future generations. Research continues to uncover more about its creation, adding to its allure.