Mountain Landscape with Lake in Foreground [Mount Tacoma?] (from Sketchbook X)

Art Historical Context

William Trost Richards, a prominent American artist of the Hudson River School captured the majestic beauty of the American wilderness in this intimate graphite sketch from his *Sketchbook X*, dated 1885. Titled *Mountain Landscape with Lake inground [Mount Tacoma?]*, it depicts a serene lake mirroring towering peaks—possibly Mount Rainier, known locally as Mount Tacoma—framed by trees. At just 5 x 7½ inches, this delicate drawing on off-white wove paper Richards' meticulous preparatory studies, blending Romantic reverence for nature with precise observation. Richards' Hudson River School style emphasized the sublime scale of landscapes, using fine graphite lines and subtle shading to evoke depth, light, and atmospheric haze. As a master of watercolor and oil, his sketches like this one served as vital references for larger works, showcasing his travels across the U.S., including the Pacific Northwest. The graphite medium allowed for portable, on-site sketching, highlighting the era's growing fascination with unspoiled frontiers. Housed in The Metropolitan Museum of Art's American Wing, this piece reflects late 19th-century American cultural pride in natural wonders. Acquired in 1992 through gifts honoring Stephen D. Rubin, it invites visitors to appreciate the quiet poetry of a fleeting moment in nature's grandeur.

About the Artist

William Trost Richards · 1833–1905

William Trost Richards (1833–1905) was a prominent American landscape and marine painter born in Philadelphia, where he attended Central High School before beginning his artistic training. Between 1850 and 1855, he studied part-time under the German-born Hudson River School artist Paul Weber while working as a designer and illustrator of ornamental metalwork. He exhibited his first works at the Pe...