River and Trees
Classification
landscapes
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of Mrs. Walter Shirlaw
Accession Number
1912-16-61
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
**River and Trees** by Walter Shirlaw captures serene beauty of nature in late 19th-century America. Born in Scotland in 1838 and later becoming a prominent American artist, Shirlaw created this landscape around 1880–90, a period when American painters were increasingly drawn to the American wilderness for inspiration. Though the exact medium remains undocumented, the work exemplifies the enduring tradition of landscape art, evoking the tranquility of riverside scenes framed by trees—a motif that reflected a growing national appreciation for the continent's natural splendor amid rapid industri...