Use this tic-tac-toe game to explore the motivations and inspirations of 19th century American landscape painters.

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During the early 1800s, America’s national identity was intertwined with the mystery and promise of its western frontier. Landscape painters gave voice to this with pastoral scenes of tamed farmlands and picturesque views of the pristine wilderness. Distinctly American natural wonders, such as Niagara Falls, were celebrated as symbols of the nation’s vigor and daring. In these natural wonders, early landscape painters saw God’s touch and blessing. Some responded with glorious scenes of Manifest Destiny. Others followed transcendentalist leanings and created luminous landscapes of quiet spirituality. Together these paintings tell the story of the political, religious, and cultural values that transformed the United States during the 19^th century.

While evoking the values and events of 19^th century American society, these paintings also explored environmental concerns that are as timely today as they were then. Landscape artists frequently recorded and editorialized on the price of progress. Sometimes a tree stump is more than just a tree stump. Seeing God in nature made landscape painting a moral calling for many. Some even used their art to inspire political action and land conservation.  

Each of the nine galleries has four paintings, three by the profiled American landscape painter and one by another artist who shared an interest or style. Can you pick which painting is not like the others? Notice and Note will help you fine tune your observational skills and enhance your understanding of the art.

These galleries introduce you to different styles of 19^th century landscape painting. In addition to these styles being  loosely defined, artists regularly experiment with different styles as they explored new ways to express themselves. So, use the following list as a general guide to explore the works of other like-minded artists and find some personal faves.

• Hudson River School: Susie M. Barstow, Charles Grant Beauregard, Julie Hart Beers, Albertus Browere, Harrison Brown, George Clough, Samuel Colman, Jasper Francis Cropsey, Eliza Pratt Greatorex, William M. Hart, James McDougal Hart, James Hope, Harriet Cany Peale, William Trost Richards, Aaron Shattuck, Jerome Thompson
• Luminists: Jasper Francis Cropsey, John William Casilear, Sanford Robinson Gifford, Mary Blood Mellen, Francis Augustus Silva, James Augustus Suydam, Thomas Worthington Whittredge
• Tonalists: Albert Pinkham Ryder, Ralph Blakelock, William Morris Hunt, John La Farge, George Fuller, Birge Harrison, Alexander Harrison, Henry Ward Ranger, J. Alden Weir, Alexander Wyant
• American West or Rocky Mountain School: Henry Fenn, Ransome Holdredge, Thomas Hill, William Keith, Frederic Remington, Charles Marion Russell
• American Pre-Raphaelites: Fidelia Bridges, Henry Farrer, John William Hill, Charles Herbert Moore, Henry Roderick Newman, William Trost Richards
• Barbizon School: Homer Martin, William Morris Hunt