Great Head from Sand Beach, Mt. Desert Island, Maine
probably 1850
Medium
landscapes
Classification
landscapes
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of Louis P. Church
Accession Number
1917-4-796-b
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Frederic Edwin Church, a leading figure of the Hudson River School captured the rugged beauty of Maine's Mt. Desert Island in *Great Head from Sand Beach, Mt. Island, Maine*, likely painted around 1850. early work depicts the dramatic cliffs of Great Head—a prominent coastal promontory—viewed from the sandy shores of Sand Beach, showcasing Church's fascination with America's wild landscapes. As a student of Thomas Cole, Church emphasized the sublime power of nature, using meticulous detail to evoke awe and national pride during a time of expanding exploration in the young United States. Churc...