An artwork on Galleree from Minneapolis Institute of Art.
About the artwork
View of Fort Snellingc. 1850
Artist: Edward K. Thomas
American, 1817 - 1906
Minnesota landscape
27 x 34 in. (68.58 x 86.36 cm) (canvas)
33 5/8 x 40 5/8 x 4 1/8 in. (85.41 x 103.19 x 10.48 cm) (outer frame)
Oil on canvas
Painting
United States
19th century
The Julia B. Bigelow Fund
In the quiet embrace of the 1850s, where the gentle flow of the Mississippi River meandered through untouched lands, a surprising voice began to rise—a voice crafted in paint and canvas. Here, amid the sparse settlements, artists like Edward Thomas were drawn to the northern landscapes, captivated by their beauty and story.
One such piece, "View of Fort Snelling," stands as a window to a world where nature and human habitation danced in delicate harmony. In this artwork, the listener can almost hear the soft rustle of Dakota tipis, their forms standing proud alongside the sturdy houses of those families tied to the American Fur Company. Nearby, the military fort looms, a symbol of the vigilance and change encroaching upon the land.
Thomas’s brush captured not just the topographical accuracy of this borderland scene but also the essence of a landscape on the precipice of transformation. As one gazes upon it, the viewer is invited to reflect on the lives intertwined within this picturesque view, highlighting both the beauty and the tumult of coexistence.
This treasure, preserved through the kind generosity of Al and Dena Naylor via the Art Champions program, reminds us of the ever-shifting narrative of nature and humanity. It speaks of moments captured in time, where art serves as a bridge to understand our past, fostering peace within the whispers of history.
About the artist
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