Product Details

Oil on Paper mounted on canvas, painted in 1878, 2 years before his death.

In original giltwood frame.

Painting: 8 1/4″ high by 7 1/4″ wide
Frame: 15″ high x 13.5″ wide

Provenance: Private Collection (acquired by descent directly from the artist in 1878) Alexander Gallery, New York (acquired from the above) Acquired from the above in 1986 by the present owner The Art Institute of Chicago (Reference Number 1986.184) New York, Private Collection

Literature: Ila Weiss, The Poetic Landscape: The Art and Experience of Sanford R. Gifford, Newark, 1987, no. 10, p. 309, illustrated

The Art Institute of Chicago, letter from Milo Naeve to Mr. and Mrs. William Y. Hutchinson, as referenced in the curatorial object file

Exhibited: New York, Alexander Gallery, Sanford Robinson Gifford, 1986, no. 42, illustrated

Sanford Robinson Gifford was an American landscape painter who lived from 1823 to 1880. He was associated with the Hudson River School, a group of American artists known for their romantic and detailed portrayals of the American landscape. Gifford’s paintings often depicted scenes of nature, including mountains, rivers, and forests, and he was particularly known for his atmospheric and luminous depictions of light and color.

Gifford was born on July 10, 1823, in Greenfield, New York. He displayed artistic talent from a young age and began his formal artistic training at Brown University, where he studied under the American painter Henry Cheever Pratt. Gifford later studied in New York City under the renowned landscape painter John Rubens Smith.

In the 1850s, Gifford traveled extensively throughout Europe, studying the works of European landscape painters and gaining inspiration for his own artistic style. He spent time in Italy, where he was influenced by the luminist painters, who emphasized the effects of light and atmosphere in their works.

After returning to the United States, Gifford became one of the leading figures of the Hudson River School. He exhibited his paintings at the National Academy of Design and became a member of the Century Association, an organization of prominent New York City artists and intellectuals.

Gifford’s paintings often featured dramatic landscapes, with a focus on capturing the grandeur and natural beauty of the American wilderness. He had a particular affinity for coastal scenes, and many of his works depicted the rugged shores of New England or the tranquil marshes of Long Island.

Gifford’s paintings were characterized by their meticulous attention to detail and their careful observation of light and atmospheric effects. He often employed a warm and radiant palette, capturing the play of light and shadow on the landscape. His works conveyed a sense of tranquility and reverence for nature, reflecting the ideals of the Hudson River School.

Sadly, Sanford Robinson Gifford’s career was cut short when he died unexpectedly on August 29, 1880, at the age of 57. However, his contributions to American landscape painting continue to be recognized and appreciated today. His works can be found in numerous museums and art collections, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the National Gallery of Art, and the Smithsonian American Art Museum.