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Albert Bierstadt - A Short History of an American Painter

Albert Bierstadt was born in Solingen, Germany in 1830. His family moved to Massechusetts, when Albert was two year old. He returned to Dusseldorf in Germany to study art between 1853 and 1857. His first painting was purchased by the Boston Arthenaeum and a successful future was sealed.

He was one of the Hudson River School participants an informal group of like-minded painters who were challenged by the great landscapes of America. He loved mountains and visited the White Mountains often. Their paintings were detailed, romantic pieces with great attention to the light. He traveled west to capture the open spaces a number of times in sketches and drawings, returning to New York to complete his paintings. In 1863, he traveled west with author Fitz Hugh Ludlow, whose wife he would later marry. He loved publicity and was carried away by the uncritical enthusiasm of the general public rather than heeding the more carefully considered criticism of those who were better informed.

He sold his paintings easily for reasonably large sums, but the art critics were harsh on his methods and selection of subjects. They were also critical of his ego and overuse of some techniques, but people just kept on buying his works. He had become internationally renowned for his enormous paintings of the American west, and the public and the institutions kept paying record prices (some over $35,000) for his works. He was a prolific artist, and it is estimated that he sold over 400 paintings. His popularity and wealth grew, and he built an amazing mansion until the public simply did not want to buy any more of the detailed landscapes and he declared himself bankrupt in 1895. He was the central figure in the Rocky Mountain School of Painting.

During his life Albert received man honors from Germany, America, Austria and France and he became a member of the National academy of Design in New York.

His paintings are popular and can be found in galleries particularly in America.

Albert died in 1902.

The possibility of obtaining any of the great artworks by this artist is quite small, although from time to time they become available, but usually one needs to bid against international galleries for the artwork. Prints and cards have been produced by many suppliers of these works and other masters. For more information on the old masters and painters of the 18th century, go to http://uniquevintageprints.googlepages.com

posted by xnrr @ 10:09 PM