 William Guy Wall (American, 1792–1864) Kaaterskill Falls on the Catskill Mountains,
Taken from Under the Cavern, c. 1827 Oil on canvas Gift of The Mared Foundation, 1969 (3583.1) Like his contemporary Thomas Cole, William Guy Wall
specialized in images of the natural scenery of the
Hudson River Valley and nearby mountain ranges. A
view from a cavern overlooking Kaaterskill Falls, this
painting depicts a site in the Catskill Mountains that
rivaled Niagara Falls as a popular destination for
tourists and artists. The mouth of the cave both frames
and opens out onto the cascading falls and forested
mountains beyond them, lending dramatic effect to the
work, yet remaining true to the topography of the scene.
At the base of the falls are five adventurers, who
experience America's natural beauty firsthand and in
doing so participate in a key aspect of the development
of the country’s national identity. |