"Hudson River School Paintings" 1st Time Seen Next to an Audobon Collection of N Amer Birds

The NY Historic Soc was bequeathed 15 Hudson River School Paintings from the Eileen & Arthur Newman collection in 2015.  These majestic & breathtaking oil paintings are being seen outside the Newman's residence for the first time.   These magnificient works of vibrant colors and light are a significant legacy of the 1st ever indigenous American artist group.  They reflect the natural splendor of our the unspoiled landscape.  The founder of the Hudson River School Painting Movement, Thomas Cole, although British born, is known for his exquisite capture of natural landscape and light.  Influences on this movement stemmed from British painter Turner known for his mastery of light and the Dusseldorf School which focused on finely detailed countryside.  A Euroepean Romanticism influence is also notable in these 15 paintings.  These comprise a glorious representations of the natural scenery in the mid-late 19th C along the Hudson and eastern seaboard.  Frederick Church, a deciple of Cole became a leading figure in this movement after Cole's early death.  Regardless of these paintings foreign influences, these majestic & rare oils are a testament to the unspoiled natural beauty of the American landscape by American artists.  I was drawn to the isolated winter scene of a boy dragging logs over the ice.  This group of artists were known as advocates for protecting the environment and promoting urban parks.  The artists moved westward as the countrysides were being over populated.  The gallery containing watercolors of the Hudson and the construction built to tap into its industrial power are anticlimate in comparison to the rich hued oils and their splendor.  Needless, these paintings can be credited with depicting the landscape's transformations.  Before entering the "Hudson River School" gallery, you pass through the hallway with another amazing natural treasure belonging to the NY Historic Society; a massive collection of Audobon's watercolors.  John James Audobon (b 1785 in what is now Haiti) moved to the US and became widely acclaimed for his detailed drawings & paintings of indigineous birds (after receiving recognition in the UK.)  From the extensive NYH Society's collection, the life sized watercolors of North American birds are standout features. The owls with their haughty glares were my favorites. His pictures are incredibly lifelike and striking.  Audobon painted between the late 18th - mid 19th C.  These two glorious exhibits melding into each are a tribute to the beauty of our nation's native birds, landscapes and treasures belonging to the NY Historic Society.