Llamas near Chimborazo, Ecuador
September 1853
Classification
nature studies
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of Louis P. Church
Accession Number
1917-4-386
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Frederic Edwin Church, leading figure of the Hudson River School, captured *Llamas near Chimazo, Ecuador* in 1853 during his expedition to South America. At just 27, Church traveled with explorer Louis Agassiz study the region's dramatic landscapes, sketching volcanoes and wildlife on-site. Chimborazo, Ecuador's peak and a symbol of sublime natural power, inspired Church's lifelong fascination with exotic terrains, influencing epic canvases like *The Heart of the Andes* (1859). This nature study exemplifies Church's meticulous preparatory process, blending scientific observation with romantic...