Does sunset look different from sunrise?

Frederic Edwin Church

Frederic Edwin Church was encouraged to pursue his interest in art at a young age. The only student of Thomas Cole, Church favored a detailed realism derived from a close study of nature. Cole taught him to consider the landscape as both a manifestation of God’s creation and a vehicle for the expression of nationalist ideals. Church traveled widely in search of grand panoramic landscapes and natural monuments, creating imaginative and theatrical paintings upon returning to his New York studio.

The setting sun was one of Church’s favorite subjects. It gave him the opportunity to depict the glowing, light-suffused effects of clouds and atmosphere that give the appearance of illuminating the canvas from within rather than relying on light striking the canvas. Mysterious and evocative, Twilight creates an impression that is simultaneously serene and ominous. Some of these effects were made possible by new pigments introduced in the 1850s, which created richer tones and vivid colors.

Medium

Oil on canvas mounted on hardboard

Credit

Gift of Mr. and Mrs. John D. Rockefeller 3rd

Item ID

1993.35.6

Dimensions

23 7/8 x 35 7/8 in. (60.6 x 91.1 cm)

Date

1858

Country

United States