Institute of Albany Art Museum

During todays journey we visited Albany's Institute of History and Art. The paintings were exquisite and something for everyone to enjoy. Europe played a huge role on influencing art and history in the American culture. It helped the settlers understand their place in the world and acknowledge the beauty surrounding them. A famous artist in particular during this time period was Thomas Cole. Cole founded the Hudson River School during the 19^th century that lead to the expansion of art in America. One of his famous paintings is called the Ruined Tower. It was said that his inspiration for this painting was a combination between his trips to Italy while seeing many Mediterranean towers and from the artist John Constable’s painting, Hadleigh Castle from the year 1829. Cole is an amazing artist and influenced other artists in the country. One artist he influenced was Henry Ary who painted the famous painting, View of Hudson, New York also hanging in Albany’s Institute of History and Art. Ary’s artwork also consisted of landscape style paintings that were detailed with trees, elegant skies, the river, and the town it lied in. I enjoy looking at landscape painting and think they are very beautiful. To me, landscape paintings capture the history of the painting and the story it is trying to tell rather than just something small focusing on one thing.

Another painting I really enjoyed that was displayed at the museum was called The White World by Walter Palmer. Palmer was known as the "Painter of the American Winter" which explains why his paintings with snowfall on the trees are so beautiful. The White World the painting above was Palmer's last paining and was completed the year that he died in 1932.