Albert Bierstadt
American
Few artists did more to popularize the American West than German-born Albert Bierstadt. The enormous canvases he painted from sketches made during several trips to western American landmarks such as the Rocky Mountains and Mount Corcoran in the Sierra Nevada only made his reputation for panoramic landscapes grow. Bierstadt’s travels took him across the United States and Europe, though he freely changed the details of places he painted in order to heighten the drama and excitement of his compositions.
Born
1830
Died
1902
Where do you find spirituality?
Bierstadt’s poetic title for his view of a Gothic Revival chapel in Germany evokes associations with spiritual enlightenment and ignorance, as well as wealth and poverty. He pointedly contrasted the wealthy top-hatted man inside the sunlit church with the impoverished mother nursing her infant, who is cast into shadow on the steps outside. The artist designed the frame with carved branches and leaves from an oak tree, a symbol of faith and also of Christ’s cross, crucifixion, and resurrection.
Medium
Oil on canvas
Credit
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. John D. Rockefeller 3rd
Item ID
1979.7.10
Dimensions
41 1/2 x 35 1/2 in. (105.4 x 90.2 cm)
Date
1862
Country
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Artist name
Albert Bierstadt
Artwork location