The American sublime: Jaded art world gasps in amazement at American Christian landscape painters

WORLD ^ | 10/26/02 | Gene Edward Veith

[my_pointy_head_is_sharp]

Thank you for posting this.

I'm familiar with a few of the artists of the Hudson River School, but we passed over them in Art History. I had no idea they were coming from such a religious perspective. Their paintings are awe-inspiring.

You have no idea how much I like Frederic Church. His "Moonlight in the Tropics" is probably my favorite painting ever. A yellow-white moon illuminating a mysterious dark lake edged with tangled branches and leaves. It's so magnificent that I could spend hours looking at it, a lifetime if given the chance. It used to be hard to tear myself away from it. If I could own one famous painting, this would probably be the one.

It's presently off-view from the De Young Museum in San Francisco (since the museum has been closed and razed, due to earthquake fears). They're building a new museum, and I'm hoping that when it opens, the painting will once again be on view (the paintings are rotated, so you never know).

It's too bad that two of San Francisco's major museums have disappeared (the De Young Museum and the Asian Art Museum). They had some very excellent art, though we still have the Palace of the Legion of Honor and the Museum of Modern Art.

[my_pointy_head_is_sharp]

Wow, that one's really beautiful! I've never heard of William Trost Richards -- I'll have to look into him.

[my_pointy_head_is_sharp]

http://www.tfaoi.com/am/14am/14am220.jpg

This one by Frederic Church took my breath away. Wish I knew how to link or post. (I knew how to at one time. I've since forgotten.)

[macamadamia]

You’ve offered nothing but bogus dichotomies and mischaracterizations. By your thinking, lovers of 19th century landscapes DO NOT love “modern art.” And, by extension, “modernists” (whatever the hell that means) despise art that predates modernism. Tell me what exactly is modern art? You mischaracterize it as something monolithic and provide caricatured examples and then knock down your straw man argument. You actually think that I like Yoko Ono or a slashed canvas simply because I haven’t categorically rejected “modern art”?

[Aquamarine]

[Aquamarine]

There is a popular current artist named Thomas Kincaide that is also a Christian painter of light. Could it be possible that Christians see a light that non Christians can't see.

[Kierkegaard]

this has to be the very best thing I have ever seen posted on freerepublic.

[my_pointy_head_is_sharp]

Go here to see stunning images of Frederic Church.

http://www.artchive.com/artchive/C/church.html#images

[my_pointy_head_is_sharp]

Thank you! Breathtaking, isn't it? I just set it as my wallpaper. Thanks!

[Aquamarine]

Yes it's very unique.

If you want me to show you how to link just freepmail me...it's not difficult

[Paul Atreides]

You’ve offered nothing but bogus dichotomies and mischaracterizations. By your thinking, lovers of 19th century landscapes DO NOT love “modern art.”

No. I did not state what anyone can and cannot like. You really need to get off of your high horse and get your underwear out of the bunch they are in before you blow an artery. I am saying that to take a monumental work, such as Bierstadt's, and compare it to something along the lines of a Pollack or Picasso is crazy. Bierstadt wins hands down. However, HAVING STUDIED MODERN ART, I know from reading that modernists have rejected the use of such techniques as chiaroscuro found in such works as the Odalisque, by Ingres. They also have a rejection of the realism of past artwork as not being real art.

And, by extension, “modernists” (whatever the hell that means) despise art that predates modernism. Tell me what exactly is modern art?

Modern art is the movement that rejects the former notions of realism and capturing the subject, as seen by the human eye. As it became increasingly more politicized, and bogus, it developed into the absurd notion that it did not matter what came out in the medium, by the artist, it was what the artist was feeling at the time that made the work "art". For instance, I could take a paintbrush, make a bunch of zigzag marks on the canvas, state that I was doing it as a protest against the views of the Catholic Church, and it would be labeled art.

You mischaracterize it as something monolithic and provide caricatured examples and then knock down your straw man argument.

Modern art is monolithic. Do you seriously think that anyone who painted like Bierstadt or the Hudson River school would receive an art grant, or favorable mention by any "art critic"?

You actually think that I like Yoko Ono or a slashed canvas simply because I haven’t categorically rejected “modern art”?

I didn't state what you liked. I used those two as examples. You really are going off the deep end over a simple criticism. Many people don't like the things I enjoy, but I'm not having a stroke over it. Grow up and develop a thicker skin.

[Paul Atreides]

Modernism is on the same level as outcome-based education.

[VOA]

bump

[RightWhale]

they made sure that their human figures in their paintings were very, very small

Right there is the fork in the road. Some see the universe and feel very small. A speck of dust. Others see the universe and feel they are part of something very big. Creation's eyes and hands.

Somebody should take a poll.

[my_pointy_head_is_sharp]

Rainy Season in the Tropics by Frederic Church, 1866.

This is one that used to hang in the De Young Museum in San Francisco. When the new museum is built, I'm sure it will be shown again.

[Aquamarine]

WOW! Now that's gorgeous. I'm surprised it filled the screen like that but I'm glad it did.

[macamadamia]

You don’t seem to read your own words very carefully. Accusing me of doing what you, yourself, are doing is the oldest debating trick in the book. You’ve assigned “phoniness” to those who like Picasso; I’d say that’s pretty arrogant. You don’t want to talk to modernists (who goes around labeling themselves modernist?) because they thumb their noses at 19th century landscapes; who is the one who needs a “thicker skin”?? And your definition of modern art “modern art is the movement that rejects the former notions of realism and capturing the subject, as seen by the human eye” is frankly nonsense. “Capturing the subject as seen by the human eye” applies arguably to artists as far back as the Renaissance. The rest of your definition is just fatuous. As to your assertion that grants and critical praise are not given to artists who paint in the Hudson River School, I’d say you must not go to many galleries. Hell, look on the magazine racks. There are magazines that feature and sell artwork of this type. Your claims to the contrary make you sound like a sore loser.

[patton]

Living examples

[JudyB1938]

I got those two pictures here: http://www.hermus.com/hudson.htm

Then if you do a google search for THE HUDSON RIVER SCHOOL, it will take you to more websites with lots more pictures. I had fun looking at all of them, but the two I posted I thought the most beautiful of them all.

Be sure and click on the pictures to make them bigger. That's why I posted the two so big. They lose something, the smaller they are. Just takes my breath away thinking of seeing the real thing. No wonder the Euros gasped!

[Richard Kimball]

Tell me if you respect any modern artists. Looking for leads

Duane Hanson did some very competent representational sculptures. Here's a sample:

I don't care for his viewpoint on life. Think of him as a 3 dimensional Norman Rockwell who sees everyone as being beaten by life. At museums, they have problems because people keep trying to talk to the works. Polyvinyl castings with real hair and clothes. He died in 96. Very popular in Broward County, Florida, though, if you want to get an idea of his politics.

Personally, I think most of the good work is going on with computer artists today. Here's a piece my brother did.

He illustrated computer games for about ten years, but got tired of working 80 hour weeks, only to get laid off as soon as the game was completed. Check out photographers and computer artists working outside the mainstream and you'll find some very good work.