Washington County Museum of Fine Arts Part II
Last week I was out at the Washington County Museum of Fine Arts in Hagerstown, MD. First time visitors often can hardly believe such a powerful Permanent Collection could exist in such a place. A few days ago I wrote a blog post about their newly renovated Singer Gallery and some of the work on display there now. Couldn't resist mentioning a few pieces hanging in the adjoining gallery in a show from the Museum's Permanent Collection. Above is a stunning small oil on paper by Albert Bierstadt (American born in Germany 1830-1902), In the Rockies . Probably painted mostly from direct observation, Bierstadt's oil shows us a masterful use of silhouetted mountain peaks for emotional impact. The artist tones down all the contrasts in his warm colored foreground, urging us on as our eyes scale the crisply etched cool bluish cliffs. Bierstadt tells you where he wants you to look. Thomas Cole (Am. 1801-1848) Study for "The Voyage of Life: Childhood&