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In 1832, when Albert Bierstadt (1830-1902) was
about two years old, his family moved from
Germany to New Bedford, Massachusetts. He
returned to Dusseldorf, Germany between 1853
and 1857 to study painting. On his return to the
United States, he organized an exhibition in
New Bedford of 150 paintings, including works of
all the major artists of his day. In December,
1857 the Boston Athenaeum bought one of his
works, The Portico of Octavia Rome, thus
assuring his career.
Bierstadt always loved mountains, and he
visited the White Mountains before he left for
Düsseldorf, for his signature appears in the
register on top of Mount Washington on August
11, 1852. He returned at various times from 1858
to 1886. Sometime in 1859 or 1860, Bierstadt
visited New Hampshire with his brother, Edward,
working in the then new medium of
photography. He stayed at the Conway House
in Conway, listing himself as "A. Bierstadt, New
York," on September 13, 1862. He also spent
considerable time at the Glen House in 1869
while at work on Emerald Pool, which he
considered his finest work.
He exhibited at the Boston Athenaeum from
1859 to 1864, at the Brooklyn Art Association from
1861 to 1879, and at the Boston Art Club from
1873 to 1880. A member of the National
Academy of Design from 1860 to 1902, he kept
a studio in the 10th Street Studio Building, New
York City from 1861 to 1879. He was a member
of the Century Association from 1862 to 1902.
Bierstadt became internationally reknowned for
his beautiful and enormous paintings of the
newly accessible American west, and his works
found their way into public and private
collections at staggeringly high prices for his time.
His popularity and wealth rose to tremendous
heights only to fade as the interest in the Boston
School and impressionism turned public taste
away from his highly detailed landscapes
suffused with golden light. By 1895 he declared
himself bankrupt.
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