An opening in a woods, framed right and left by tall trees, those from the right arching over the top of the picture. A secondary group of trees in the middle distance at the right, screens the lighted sky in the distance.

The Vista, c. 1890

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Oil on canvasexpand_more

Gift of Mrs. Lyndon Kingexpand_more  47.24

Not on Viewexpand_more

Rather than turning to Europe as many American artists did in the 1800s, Ralph Blakelock found inspiration in his own country. He painted romantic landscapes. For him, forests evoked a mood, usually of melancholy and solitude. The Vista’s theme is isolation within nature. In this still forest, no creatures are to be seen. The vibrant colors and impasto painting technique add drama. The paint was laid thickly on the canvas and then roughed up, in this case with a meat skewer (most artists used a knife). Blakelock’s method of painting and his view of nature were not appreciated in his own day, but now he is recognized as a great Romantic painter.

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Details
Title
The Vista
Artist Life
1847 - 1919
Role
Artist
Accession Number
47.24
Curator Approved

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An opening in a woods, framed right and left by tall trees, those from the right arching over the top of the picture. A secondary group of trees in the middle distance at the right, screens the lighted sky in the distance.