Landscape, Autumn

Duncanson was born in Fayette, Seneca County, New York; he came to prominence painting portraits of white and black abolitionists and later became internationally known for his landscapes. Today, he is regarded as a significant contributor to the aesthetic made famous by the Hudson River School. Duncanson captured landscapes with a romantic flourish that spoke of America’s beauty and its potential. His distinguished career lead him to far-away places such as Italy and England, and royal figures such as Queen Victoria and the King of Sweden were among the famous purchasers of his works. The Taft Museum of Art in Cincinnati, Ohio is home to eight of Duncanson’s murals, which were originally commissioned by millionaire Nicholas Longworth between 1850-1852. Recently, his 1859 oil on canvas titled Landscape with Rainbow was gifted to 46th President Joe Biden as the 59th Inaugural Painting, on view in the Nation’s Capital.