Artist of the week
Snow peaks and falling water
Albert Bierstadt
Albert Bierstadt, the German-born painter of the American West, from 1863 to about 1890. Lander’s Peak rises snowy above a waterfall and a camp of tipis and horses, granite walls stand over the still Merced in Yosemite, and visitors in hats pause below the white rush of Nevada Falls. Then Lake Louise with dead trees in the water, the Matterhorn glowing pink above the mist at sunrise, a snow peak over a quiet lake, and a white beach curving round a turquoise cove.
As a puzzle
Start from what stands out: the tipis, horses and people on the meadow at Lander’s Peak, the white water of Nevada Falls and the walkers below it, the pink face of the Matterhorn. Grey sky and still water are slow over the Merced, at Lake Louise and around the wooded island, and so are the dark pines in the corners and the pale sand of Sea Cove. Lander’s Peak is busy from edge to edge and takes a high count; keep the misty lake and the cove moderate.
A good size here: 50–250 pieces.
Also filed under Hudson River School
Subjects here: LandscapesMountainsRivers and LakesThe Sea
7 pictures, pick one to build
