An artwork on Galleree from The Art Institute of Chicago.
About the artwork
Twilight in the Wilderness1860
Frederic Edwin Church
In his New York studio, Church painted this spectacular view of a blazing sunset over wilderness near Mount Katahdin in Maine, which he had sketched during a visit nearly two years earlier. Although Church often extolled the grandeur of American landscape in his work, this painting appears to have additional overtones. Created on the eve of the Civil War, the painting's subject can be interpreted as symbolically evoking the coming conflagration. Church's considerable technical skills and clever showmanship contributed to his fame as the premier artist of his generation. Rather than debut this painting in an annual exhibition with works by other artists as was the custom, Church instead exhibited it by itself at a prestigious art gallery. Coaxed by advance publicity and highly favorable press reviews, several hundred spectators flocked to admire it during its seven-week run.
An image of this painting has a cameo in the Harrison Ford film <em>Clear and Present Danger</em>.
oil on canvas
Framed: 124 x 185 x 13 cm (48 13/16 x 72 13/16 x 5 1/8 in.); Unframed: 101.6 x 162.6 cm (40 x 64 in.)
Mr. and Mrs. William H. Marlatt Fund
In a sun-drenched studio somewhere in New York, the air was thick with the scent of oil paint and linseed. There, the artist Frederic Edwin Church meticulously crafted an extraordinary canvas that captured the essence of a breathtaking sunset over the wild expanse near Mount Katahdin, Maine. This was not merely a scene drawn from imagination; it was a moment he had sketched nearly two years prior, a vivid memory of nature's fiery display etched into his mind.
As he painted, the world outside his studio was bleaker than the sun-streaked hues he was conjuring. The murmur of impending conflict loomed over the land like storm clouds gathering on the horizon, a whisper of a turbulent future that awaited the nation—a divide that would soon ignite into the flames of civil strife. In this work, the sunset shimmered with deeper significance, echoing themes that resonated with the turbulence of the age. The burning sky appeared almost premonitory, as if it foretold the chaos that the coming Civil War would bring.
Church, renowned not just for his remarkable artistic ability but also for his palpable sense of drama, understood the profound impact of his work. Unlike many of his contemporaries, who showcased their paintings in yearly exhibitions alongside others, Church chose a different path for this masterpiece. He decided to unveil it alone, reserving a prestigious art gallery for its debut.
There was a palpable buzz in the air, coaxed forth by the anticipation and glowing reviews of the painting's promise. When the time finally arrived, hundreds of eager spectators flocked to the gallery, their faces illuminated by the vibrant colors and the evocative spell of the canvas. For seven weeks, the painting stood as a silent witness, drawing in the curious and the captivated, each person ensnared by its beauty and the unspoken weight of what it represented.
Through this single work, Church transcended mere representation of the American landscape; he captured the emotional heartbeat of a nation on the brink of transformation. It was more than a sunset; it was an omen, a story hidden between layers of paint, and it vibrated with the struggles and hopes of the time. As viewers stood before it, they felt not just the allure of artistry, but also the stirrings of a history that was about to unfold.
About the artist
Creating transformative experiences through art “for the benefit of all the people forever.”The Cleveland Museum of Art is renowned for the quality and breadth of its collection, which includes more than 66,500 artworks and spans 6,000 years of achievement in the arts. The artworks shared on this platform are sourced from the museum's Open Access data under the CC0 license. No endorsement is implied.Address: 11150 East Boulevard, Cleveland, OH, USA 44106
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