Pool in the Woods
Classification
landscapes
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of the National Academy of Design from the Mrs. William T. Brewster Bequest
Accession Number
1953-179-63
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
William Trost Richards (183–1905), a American landscape painter of the 19th century, created *Pool in the Woods* 1874. Associated with the Hudson River School and influenced by Pre-Raphaelite precision, Richards was renowned for his meticulous depictions of nature's intricate details, from shimmering water to dappled foliage. This, classified as a landscape reflects the era's Romantic reverence for the American wilderness, a time when artists sought to preserve the sublime beauty of untouched forests amid rapid industrialization. Though the medium remains unidentified, Richards's style typically employed fine brushwork to evoke luminous effects and atmospheric depth, drawing viewers into intimate natural scenes. Painted during his mature period, *Pool in the Woods* likely captures a serene forest pool, symbolizing tranquility and the divine order of the natural world—a common theme in his oeuvre celebrating God's handiwork. Now housed in the Smithsonian American Art Museum as part of the Smithsonian Collection, the painting was a gift from the National Academy of Design via the Mrs. William T. Brewster Bequest. With research ongoing, it invites fresh discovery, underscoring Richards's enduring legacy in American art.