Lower Falls of the Yellowstone

Bierstadt made his only trip to Yellowstone during the summer of 1881. He made oil-on-paper sketches there of well-known sites, including the lower falls of Yellowstone River. He likely made this small oil painting on the spot, looking north from Inspiration Point toward the falls. An eagle glides over the mist near the base of the falls. Bierstadt based two larger oil paintings on this study.