Clouds
Medium
landscapes
Classification
landscapes
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Bequest of Erskine Hewitt
Accession Number
1942-50-264-b
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Daniel Huntington's *Clouds* (ca. 1840) captures the dramatic beauty of the natural sky, a quintessential landscape from the early career of this prominent American artist (1816–1906). Born in New York, Huntington trained under Samuel F.B. Morse and became a key figure in the National Academy of Design, blending sensibilities with a keen eye for atmospheric effects. Painted during the formative years of American landscape art, this work reflects the era's fascination with the sublime power of nature, influenced by the Hudson River School's emphasis on vast, emotive vistas. As a focused study ...