Mountains, Maine
1877 - 1881
Classification
landscapes
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of Louis P. Church
Accession Number
1917-4-642
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Frederic Edwin Church, a master of the Hudson River School, captured the sublime beauty of the American wilderness in *Mountains, Maine* (1877–1881). As one of the movement's luminaries, Church was renowned for his panoramic landscapes that celebrated nature's grandeur, often infused with spiritual undertones. This work, created late in his career amid personal health struggles from rheumatoid arthritis, reflects his enduring fascination with New England's rugged terrain—likely inspired by Maine's majestic peaks like Mount Katahdin, which he had explored earlier in life. Church's technique em...