Study for "From Paradise to Purgatory, Newport"
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
1953-179-75
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
William Trost Richards, an American artist who lived from 1833 to 1905, created this preparatory study around 1878 for his larger composition titled "From Paradise to Purgatory, Newport." Classified as a landscape, the work reflects Richards' deep engagement with natural scenery during a period when American artists often sought to capture the nation's varied environments with both precision and emotional depth. The evocative title hints at a narrative journey through contrasting moods of place, likely centered on the scenic shores and vistas of Newport. As a study, this piece reveals the careful planning behind Richards' finished paintings, allowing viewers a glimpse into the artist's process of developing light, form, and atmosphere. Housed in the Smithsonian American Art Museum, the work arrived through a generous gift from the National Academy of Design via the Mrs. William T. Brewster Bequest. Ongoing research continues to uncover more about its creation and significance within 19th-century American landscape traditions.