Summit of Mt. Washington

About this artwork

View of four horses with side saddles, one with a regular saddle.

Art Historical Context

Summit of Mt. Washington is a landscape by the celebrated American artist Winslow Homer (1836–1910), created in 1869. Homer is renowned for his realistic, unsentimental depictions of American life, nature, and everyday scenes, often blending keen observation with a sense of atmosphere and human presence. This work, part of the Smithsonian American Art Museum collection as a gift from Charles Savage Homer, Jr., presents a view of the mountain's peak featuring four horses—three with side saddles and one with a regular saddle—suggesting a moment of rest or gathering amid the rugged terrain. In the late 1860s, as tourism grew in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, Mount Washington drew visitors eager to experience its dramatic heights and vistas. Homer's scene captures this era of expanding leisure travel, highlighting the intersection of people and wilderness that fascinated many 19th-century artists. The side saddles imply the presence of women among the riders, reflecting social customs of the period while adding a layer of everyday narrative to the landscape. This piece offers insight into Homer's early engagement with natural subjects, a theme that would become central to his later, more iconic works. It invites viewers to imagine the challenges and allure of reaching such a remote summit in 1869, connecting us to a pivotal moment in American art and outdoor culture.