1. Art’s Reflection of the New American Nation

2. Why Art is Important in History
It is the expression of a nation’s identity.
It is the product of our society and makes a record of experiences we have shared.
It reflects the people’s concerns, priorities, and politics…

3. FORGING AN AMERICAN CULTURE AND DENTITY 1790-1860

4. James Madison, Gilbert Stuart
1. PORTRAITURE
James Madison, Gilbert Stuart

5. Gilbert Stuart George Washington, 1795

6. Gilbert Stuart Thomas Jefferson, 1821
Why were Portraits such an important art form in early American history?
Gilbert Stuart Thomas Jefferson, 1821

7. Edward Savage The Washington Family, 1789-1796

8. Thomas Sully, The Coleman Sisters, 1844
What can you conclude about these women and their status in society? How do you know?
Thomas Sully, The Coleman Sisters, 1844

9. Charles Willson Peale Benjamin and Eleanor Ridgely Laming, 1788

10. Joshua Johnson, African-American artist, The Westwood Children, 1807

11. Choctaw, George Catlin

12. Why Portraiture? * Before photography, it was the only means of maintaining family history * It also served as a statement of wealth and place in the new American society * Wealthy Americans also wanted portraits of the founding fathers as a statement of their support and patriotism.

13. 2. LANDSCAPES

14. William James Bennett, Niagara Falls, 1840
Why would landscapes become so popular in the early 1800s?
William James Bennett, Niagara Falls, 1840

15. Asher Durand

16. Yosemite, Albert Bierstadt

17. “Looking Down the Yosemite Valley” 1865, Albert Bierstadt

18. Albert Bierstadt, 1858

19. Thomas Cole, “The Oxbow”

20. George Catlin, Big Bend on the Upper Missouri, 1832

21. George Catlin, Clay Bluffs above St. Louis, 1832

22. Why Landscapes? * The lure of the new western territories focused national attention on the lands, animals, and native peoples. * Landscapes reflected our growing sense of “nationalism” (pride in our expansion and uniqueness of relatively untouched western territory. * Wealthy Americans were patrons of landscape artists in order to display their patriotism.

23. 3. MAN IN NATURE

24. How did artists portray the interaction of Americans and their environment?
Emanuel Luetze

25. “Daniel Boone Escorting Settlers through the Cumberland Gap” 1851,George Caleb Bingham,

26. George Catlin, Comanche Indians Chasing Buffalo, 1846–48

27. George Catlin “A Crow Village and the Salmon River” Mountains, 1855

28. John James Audubon 1825

29. Edward Hicks “Peaceable Kingdom” 1834

30. Why “Man in Nature”. (The “Romanticized” Image of America)
Why “Man in Nature”? (The “Romanticized” Image of America) * New settlers of the west were portrayed as heroes, coming to tame a wild, uncivilized land. * Native Americans were often portrayed as “noble savages”, in tune with nature and living a free, unrestrained life. * America was a wonderland where both the unusual, wild and domesticated animals could dwell in perfect harmony with each other; just as Native-Americans and white settlers could share the lands side-by-side.

31. Francis Alexander “Ralph Wheelock's Farm” 1822
4. THE COMMON MAN
Francis Alexander “Ralph Wheelock's Farm” 1822

32. “Fur Traders Going down the Missouri” George Caleb Bingham e
Why would the daily lives of the average citizen become a subject for artwork?
“Fur Traders Going down the Missouri” George Caleb Bingham e

33. “Raftsmen Playing Cards” Geo. Caleb Bingham, 1847

34. John Whetten Ehninger

35. George Inness The Lackawanna Valley, 1856

36. Why the “COMMON MAN?” * Reflected new “Jacksonian” vision of democratic ideals and involvement of more “average” citizens in democratic processes. * Reflected respect and glorification of the hard-working individual playing a needed and valued role in both settlement of the West and in developing the nation’s farms and industries.

37. 5. NARRATIVE ART

38. Edward Hicks “The Landing of Columbus” 1837
Narrative Paintings retold historic events in our history. Through what perspectives did artists portray these events?
Edward Hicks “The Landing of Columbus” 1837

39. Enrico Causici, Columbus in America, Sandstone, U.S. Capital, 1825

40. William H. Powell, 1847

41. John Vanderlyn, Columbus Discovers America, 1837

42. Edward Hicks “Penn's Treaty with the Indians” 1840

43. John Trumbull, 1819

44. John Trumbull, Yorktown Surrender, 1817

45. Charles Henry Granger “Muster Day” 1843

46. A.A. Lamb Emancipation Proclamation, 1864

47. John Quidor “The Return of Rip Van Winkle” 1849

48. WHY NARRATIVE ART:. Relied little on historic accuracy
WHY NARRATIVE ART: * Relied little on historic accuracy. * Focused on presenting “romantic” versions of events, portraying American heroes in positive light. * Sense of “nationalism” created a renewed pride and interest in historic events, the public wishing to show their patriotism by preserving history for the next generation.

49. 6. NEO-CLASSICISM (renewed interest in ancient Greek and Roman civilizations)

50. ( Remember, the foundations of American ideals, democracy and representative government, can be traced to Greek and Roman civilizations.)
Cinncinatus responds to Roman Senate’s plea to serve the republic.

51. In architecture and art, early 19th century Americans chose classic Greek and Roman styles for civic buildings. Why?

52. The Capitol's north wing, the only section of the building completed when the Federal government moved to its new city in It was shared by the House, the Senate, the Supreme Court, the district courts, and other offices.

53. The East Front ca. 1861

54. U.S. Supreme Court building, Washington, D.C.

55. George Washington, Horatio Greenough, 1840

56. Constantino Brumidi Fresco, U.S. Capital Dome, 1865

58. Armored Freedom, sword raised and cape flying, tramples Tyranny and Kingly Power; she is assisted by an eagle carrying arrows and a thunderbolt.

59. Minerva, goddess of wisdom and the arts of civilization, with helmet and spear, next to a printing press, while inventors Benjamin Franklin, Samuel F. B. Morse, and Robert Fulton watch.

60. Neptune, god of the sea, holding his trident, rides in a shell chariot drawn by sea horses. Venus, goddess of love born from the sea, helps lay the transatlantic cable. In the background is a form of iron-clad ship with smokestacks.

61. Mercury, god of commerce, hands a bag of gold to Robert Morris, financier of the Revolutionary War. On the left, men move a box on a dolly.

62. Vulcan, god of the forge, stands at his anvil with his foot on a cannon, with a steam engine in the background.

63. Ceres, the goddess of agriculture, is shown with a wreath of wheat and a cornucopia, seated on a McCormick reaper. Young America in a liberty cap holds the reins of the horses.

64. WHY NEO-CLASSICISM? * Civic buildings and capital cities were a source of pride, to prove to visiting foreign dignitaries (and to Americans) that the new nation was powerful, civilized, and an “equal” to older nations. * Civic buildings use of “neo-classic” design elevated American heroes and events to the same level of historic importance as European heroes. Therefore, America was justified to take its place among European powers in world affairs.

65. Art’s Reflection of the New American Nation