Through American eyes : Frederick Church and the landscape oil sketch

Nice exhibition of oil sketches by Frederick Church at the National Gallery.

These sketches were made out of doors either in their own right or as studies for larger works. They are painted about the time of the American Civil War and show a quiet of pride and patriotism in the landscape.

I loved one of a sunset over the Hudson River in New York as it had a wonderful contrast between the deep orange sky and black roof tops in the foreground.

The sketches were hung alongside a full scale work “Niagara Falls from the American Side” to show the relationship between the sketches and finished works.

The exhibition gave a good view of an artists working methods.

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