Customer Reviews

American Wilderness: The Story of the Hudson River School of Painting

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This book is a joke. These are the reasons: The author talks about how handsome an artist was instead of how he painted; he talked about what day an artist ate a boiled egg with whom (who cares; may be he ate a scrambled egg the next day) instead of more relevant events. May be this is why he subtitled the book: "The Story of the Hudson River School of Painting." The worst of all about this book is the pictures. They are small; 90+% are about or smaller than a post card. The pictures were badly reproduced, very dark, totally off-colors (when compare with other books), blur or messed as if they were printed 60-75 years ago when printing technology was still considered primitive. My husband, a very reputable artist in our area, said looking at the pictures were like looking at them under a half-moon night--can't see any details although you know they are landscape paintings--and that is all you can see. This book is also very small and has few pictures although this is not a problem if the materials (writing & pictures) are good. The only picture that is about average is the one on the cover. In short, this is the worst book about Hudson River School paintings I have ever bought.

This is an outstanding book. It is not an art book. It is a history book. As the title clearly states, this is "The story of the Hudson River School of Painting". So, if you are simply looking for a book on painting with pretty pictures, this is not for you. On the other hand if you are looking for a book that covers the lives of the painters, discuss the social, economic, and scientific movements that influenced the artists and places the Hudson River School in the larger historical context of the period, this is the book for you. The book is well written and contains many interesting historical tidbits of information. Did you know, for example, that Samuel F.B. Morse (the later inventor of the telegraph) was an artist by profession and president of the National Academy of Design or that Thomas Cole (the painter) traveled to Columbia to follow the route of the famous German naturalist and explorer Alexander von Humboldt? If you are ever in the Hudson Valley and plan on visiting Church's Olana, the Samuel Morse estate, the Thomas Cole Historic Site, or walking the Hudson River School Art Trail, this is a book that will enrich your experience.

A classic of the literature beautifully updated with absolutely superb illustrations. A "must" for anyone interested in the Hudson River School