George Inness (American Hudson River School/Tonalist Painter, 1825-1894) Early Autumn, Montclair 1888
Rainy weekend here in the Chesapeake, and yesterday I thought about the work of George Inness several times. As you know, if you follow this blog, I seldom feature landscape painters, but George Inness (1825-1894) is an exception. His early work was influenced initially by prints of the works of Claude Lorrain & the 17th-century Dutch landscape masters. He was also touched by the work of the leading Hudson River School painters - particularly that of Thomas Cole & Asher B. Durand - whose style is evident in some of his early canvases. Travel to Europe led him to be influenced by the work of the Barbizon school, & finally, by the theology of Emanuel Swedenborg, whose spiritualism found vivid expression in Inness’ works toward the end of his life. His mature works helped define the Tonalist movement. A few of Inness’ later paintings stay with me over time. The obscured details, diffused light, organic forms, & inherent glow of these paintings are surely evocative.
George Inness (American Hudson River School/Tonalist Painter, 1825-1894) The Trout Brook
George Inness (American Hudson River School/Tonalist Painter, 1825-1894) Spring Blossoms
George Inness (American Hudson River School/Tonalist Painter, 1825-1894) The Lone Farm
George Inness (American Hudson River School/Tonalist Painter, 1825-1894) Niagara
George Inness (American Hudson River School - Tonalist Painter, 1825-1894) Morning, Catskill Valley (The Red Oaks) 1894
George Inness (American Hudson River School - Tonalist Painter, 1825-1894) Near the Village, October 1894
George Inness (American Hudson River School - Tonalist Painter, 1825-1894) Spirit of Autumn 1891