Staffage – people, animals, birds, carts and ships – make a big difference to many landscape paintings. Have you met the Wanderer too?
Church
From Church’s view of Niagara, Bierstadt in the Sierra Nevada, to two early landscape views of Ferdinand Hodler.
Trained in Düsseldorf, he undertook two major trips to the Rocky Mountains, in 1859 and 1863, and painted awe-inspiring views of the peaks and valleys.
His ‘Heart of the Andes’ was viewed by more than 12,000 when shown in New York. Many of them brought opera glasses to see its fine details.
His working methods were traditional, in making copious drawings and oil sketches in front of the motif, then composing those into large finished oil paintings.
Edward Lear paints his visits to Palestine, Greece, Albania, and India, including a breathtaking view of Kangchenjunga from Darjeeling.
After a series of family tragedies, she decided to travel the world painting its plants. Now one of the most celebrated woman artists of the age.
A World View with a high aspect ratio, they came to dominate in the latter half of the 19th century, some being major commercial attractions. Now ubiquitous.
From an elevated viewpoint, finely detailed, great depth, figures and buildings tiny in the immensity of the view, far distant horizon – it’s a World View.
The first brush with autumn occurs when the hill and mountain tops change to white, as if dusted by icing sugar – the first thrill for children and skiers.
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