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View of the Hudson River Valley from Olana

830025500.jpeg
Fredric Edwin Church (1826–1900), View of the Hudson River Valley from Olana, 1867, oil on canvas, 12 1/4 x 20 3/8 inches. Brigham Young University Museum of Art, gift of Herald R. Clark.
830025500.jpeg
Fredric Edwin Church (1826–1900), View of the Hudson River Valley from Olana, 1867, oil on canvas, 12 1/4 x 20 3/8 inches. Brigham Young University Museum of Art, gift of Herald R. Clark.

FREDRICK EDWIN CHURCH (1826–1900)

In his extensive travels, Church sought awe-inspiring vistas to paint. He concluded that America, the “New World,” had the most beautiful views he had seen. Here the sunset’s brilliant colors appear to depict a primeval nature, untouched by human hands. Church found this idyllic scene in the view from Olana, his uniquely beautiful, castle-like home overlooking the Hudson River, which was in a very real way his personal Garden of Eden. The artist used European painting conventions of framing trees, waterway, and distant mountains to capture the beauty of his native land.

Curricular Resources

The MOA has created suggested discussion prompts and assignments for BYU CIV faculty and students to use. Each assignment is based on themes that correspond with GE learning outcomes.

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