“Lake George”
“Lake George” is an oil on canvas painting by the American landscape artist, John Frederick Kensett, from 1870. Kensett was part of the second generation of the Hudson River School of Art movement, sometimes referred to as Luminism. The aim of these artists was to use the brush, however bold, to give atmospheric lighting to their work.
Lake George, in upstate New York north of New York City, was a favorite for the Hudson River School artists. It is a region of historical significance, from the French and Indian War to the Revolutionary War. It is also an area of natural beauty, located at the foothills of the Adirondack Mountain range.
At the time this was painted, Lake George was a huge tourist attraction and was a magnet for the wealthier tourists from New York City. Many of Kensett’s paintings were purchased by these wealthier tourists.
Kensett visited and painted Lake George in New York State many times, most often during the summer. During these trips, Kensett would produce sketches on which he would base his later studio paintings. This piece in particular shows Kensett’s adeptness at depicting atmospheric conditions. The storm clouds above the lake and the raindrops falling into the water are almost tangible. See “Lake George” for a Kensett painting of the same name from 1869.
“Lake George” is currently in the collections of the Brooklyn Museum in New York City, in the United States.
For more on John Frederick Kensett, please visit his short biography here.
You can find more artists to learn about here.
