Moving Pictures

American artists in the 19th century often traveled to Europe. They sought to study the old masters, absorb new techniques, and find fresh inspiration. These journeys profoundly shaped their art.

The father of the Hudson River School, Thomas Cole, found his calling in Italy. He was captivated by Roman ruins, seeing a powerful connection between nature's grandeur and human history.

Cole's time in Italy fueled his imagination. The landscape became more than scenery; it was a stage for epic stories and moral allegories, as seen in his series, The Voyage of Life.

He translated the sublime beauty of Italy's ruins and majestic scenery into his work, forever linking Europe's past with the untamed wilderness of the American landscape.

Kenyon Cox embraced the academic tradition. In Paris, he studied at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts, honing his skills in classical draftsmanship and figural composition, a style that was a stark contract to Impressionism.

His travels took him to Florence, Italy where he was deeply moved by the Renaissance masters. The works of Leonardo da Vinci, Donatello, and Raphael became his benchmarks for form, balance, and idealized beauty.

Cox's European training established him as a leading figure in American academic art. He championed a return to classical ideals of order and beauty, a direct result of his time in Paris and Florence.

A leader of the Ashcan School, Robert Henri found his artistic soul in Spain. He was drawn to the bold, direct realism of Spanish masters like Velázquez and Goya.

Henri's time in Spain taught him to paint with urgency and emotion. He capture the essence of everyday life, focusing on the character and dignity of ordinary people, especially dancers and bullfighters.

Known for his sweeping vistas of the American West, Thomas Moran also drew inspiration from Italy. He studied the works of J.M.W. Turner and Claude Lorrain, both of whom were masters of Italian light and atmosphere.

Moran's Italian studies in Rome and Venice helped him develop his signature style. The techniques he learned for capturing glowing light and grand scale were later applied to his monumental canvases of Yellowstone.

William Merritt Chase, a leading American Impressionist, was a frequent traveler to Italy. He was drawn to Venice, where he captured the city's unique light, canals, and architecture in his quick, painterly style.

The vibrant atmosphere of Italy provided rich subject matter for Chase. He sketched and painted with an energetic touch, focusing on the play of light and shadow on everyday scenes.

These artists’ European journeys were not about imitation, but inspiration. They absorbed new ideas from Italy, Paris, and Spain, using them to forge a new, uniquely American identity in art.