Painting the 'Queen of American Lakes'

GLENS FALLS, N.Y.

:"Painting Lake George 1774-1900" will be presented in the Charles R. Wood Gallery at The Hyde Collection June 5 through September 11.

The exhibition will explore the extraordinary depth and range of paintings that depict the history and landscapes of the "Queen of American Lakes."

Organized by Hyde curator Erin Budis Coe, this exhibition will feature a diverse selection of styles and interpretations of Lake George, N.Y., - from the breathtaking presentations of sky, mountain and lake, to the dramatic storms, to the more intimate genre scenes. In addition, a small selection of watercolors, prints, photographs and archival documents will round out the visual presentation.

The exhibition will be divided into four thematic sections. "Nostalgia for a Brave Beginning" will share early views of the lake that commemorate its role in American history. "A Sublime Beauty" will group landscapes by artists who envisioned the lake as an unspoiled wilderness. "A Pastoral Paradise" will present depictions of Lake George as the embodiment of the agrarian ideal. Lastly, "Life Along the Lake," will examine closeup views and common scenes of picnics and boating parties.

Featured artists include Ezra Ames, Julie Hart Beers, James Buttersworth, Thomas Cole, Jasper F. Cropsey, Asher B. Durand, Sanford R. Gifford, John Henry Hill, David Johnson and John F. Kensett.

In the past, exhibitions devoted to American landscape painting have chiefly focused on the diverse scenery of the Hudson River School, the first landscape painting movement in America. Beginning with Thomas Cole, every Hudson River School artist visited and painted Lake George. Yet the lake itself has received little attention, leaving a considerable gap in the art historical record.

"Painting Lake George" and the accompanying fully illustrated 88-page catalog will present new research on the artistic, cultural and social history of the lake.

Authored by Erin Budis Coe and guest essayist and consulting scholar Gwendolyn Owens, the catalog will also include a census of more than 750 paintings compiled by The Hyde Collection.

Over a period of years, The Hyde has collected information about all known paintings of Lake George in order to have a broader understanding of how the lake was portrayed during the Nineteenth Century.

A symposium will be conducted in connection with the exhibition at The Hyde Collection, 161 Warren Street, on Saturday, September 10.

For information, 518-792-1761, or hydecollection.org.