A Storm in the Rocky Mountains, Mt. Rosalie
1866
Albert Bierstadt invites us into the dramatic heart of the American West, where a colossal, brooding storm cloud threatens to swallow a sunlit mountain valley. Painted in 1866, this masterpiece of the Romantic movement exaggerates the sheer scale of nature to make the viewer feel wonderfully small and awe-struck. Bierstadt actually combined sketches from different locations to create this idealized, epic scene, proving that sometimes a little artistic license makes for the best history. The glowing light breaking through the dark clouds creates a theatrical contrast that defined how 19th-century Americans imagined their wild frontier.
- Technique
- Oil on canvas
- Material
- Canvas
Location: Denver Art Museum
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