| German Explorers and Painters of the Old West, and Other Stories |
They crossed Nebraska and journeyed into western Wyoming. Bierstadt and Lander separated, and
he stayed in the Wind River Mountains for three weeks to create his art. Bierstadt's first Rocky
Mountain exhibition took place in March, 1860 and immediately established his reputation as a great
landscape painter. His paintings were enormous, vivid, and they romantically portrayed the West in a
mystically delirious way that simply enraptured people of the day. They offered a glimpse of total
serenity in a time of total confusion and pain.
he stayed in the Wind River Mountains for three weeks to create his art. Bierstadt's first Rocky
Mountain exhibition took place in March, 1860 and immediately established his reputation as a great
landscape painter. His paintings were enormous, vivid, and they romantically portrayed the West in a
mystically delirious way that simply enraptured people of the day. They offered a glimpse of total
serenity in a time of total confusion and pain.
The 1859 expedition led by Lander was a surveying and an Indian peacekeeping mission (the
expedition included four wagons full of gifts worth 5,000 dollars for Shoshone tribesmen whose trade
would be disrupted by the new route), and it was also invested broadly in the arts. Lander rebuilt and
improved sections of the road in 1859, and a California correspondent called the Lander Trail the
"model emigrant route of America." 13,000 emigrants reportedly crossed the Lander Road in its first
season. Lander was later an esteemed war hero and also a writer and poet.
expedition included four wagons full of gifts worth 5,000 dollars for Shoshone tribesmen whose trade
would be disrupted by the new route), and it was also invested broadly in the arts. Lander rebuilt and
improved sections of the road in 1859, and a California correspondent called the Lander Trail the
"model emigrant route of America." 13,000 emigrants reportedly crossed the Lander Road in its first
season. Lander was later an esteemed war hero and also a writer and poet.
Artist Emanuel Leutze, 1816-1868, also went on the expedition. He was a German
born in Philadelphian, also trained in Düsseldorf, and he helped with the artists'
preparations. Leutze, most famous for his painting of Washington crossing the
Delaware, and Bierstadt were already acquainted. A photographer was also hired by
Bierstadt. Artist Seth Frost and Henry Hitchings, skilled in lithography and watercolor,
went along as well. In a later irony, Hitchings, Bierstadt and Frost
would all die within the same year as one another.
born in Philadelphian, also trained in Düsseldorf, and he helped with the artists'
preparations. Leutze, most famous for his painting of Washington crossing the
Delaware, and Bierstadt were already acquainted. A photographer was also hired by
Bierstadt. Artist Seth Frost and Henry Hitchings, skilled in lithography and watercolor,
went along as well. In a later irony, Hitchings, Bierstadt and Frost
would all die within the same year as one another.
For Americans who had never seen the American West, Bierstadt’s paintings were awesome. Some of his
canvases were so large and detailed that viewers stood a distance from the painting and used opera glasses to
focus on small sections. By bringing the grandeur of the West to the nation’s attention, Bierstadt even influenced
the establishment of California’s Yosemite National Park as a way to protect such national treasures. His
paintings were an enormous success and sold for unparalleled prices.
canvases were so large and detailed that viewers stood a distance from the painting and used opera glasses to
focus on small sections. By bringing the grandeur of the West to the nation’s attention, Bierstadt even influenced
the establishment of California’s Yosemite National Park as a way to protect such national treasures. His
paintings were an enormous success and sold for unparalleled prices.
He planned to travel west again immediately, but the beginning of the Civil War delayed his next trip
until 1863, and by then he also had to obtain permission to accompany an army unit because of the
danger of Indian attacks. He couldn't find an accommodating army unit, however, so in May of
1863, he and Fitz Hugh Ludlow, writer and art critic at the New York Evening Post, set out for
California from St. Joseph, Missouri, from there to hopefully proceed to Canada. Bierstadt and
Ludlow thought they could mutually benefit and promote each other by their respective skills.
Ludlow is best-known for his autobiographical book The Hasheesh Eater, 1857, in which he explores
altered states of consciousness. Ludlow's descriptions of their trip were of great interest back in the
East. He describes a scene they witnessed in Nebraska:
until 1863, and by then he also had to obtain permission to accompany an army unit because of the
danger of Indian attacks. He couldn't find an accommodating army unit, however, so in May of
1863, he and Fitz Hugh Ludlow, writer and art critic at the New York Evening Post, set out for
California from St. Joseph, Missouri, from there to hopefully proceed to Canada. Bierstadt and
Ludlow thought they could mutually benefit and promote each other by their respective skills.
Ludlow is best-known for his autobiographical book The Hasheesh Eater, 1857, in which he explores
altered states of consciousness. Ludlow's descriptions of their trip were of great interest back in the
East. He describes a scene they witnessed in Nebraska:
"A very picturesque party of Germans going to Oregon... they had a large herd of cattle and fifty wagons, mostly
drawn by oxen, though some of the more prosperous "outfits" were attached to horses or mules. The people
themselves represented the better class of Prussian or North German peasantry. A number of strapping
teamsters,in gay costumes, appeared like Westphalians. Some of them wore canary shirts and blue pantaloons;
with these were intermingled blouses of claret, rich warm brown, and the most vivid red. All the women and
children had some positive color about them, if it only amounted to a knot of ribbons, or the glimpse of a
petticoat. I never saw so many bright and comely faces.... The whole picture of the train was such a delight in
form, color, and spirit that I could have lingered near it all the way to Kearney."
drawn by oxen, though some of the more prosperous "outfits" were attached to horses or mules. The people
themselves represented the better class of Prussian or North German peasantry. A number of strapping
teamsters,in gay costumes, appeared like Westphalians. Some of them wore canary shirts and blue pantaloons;
with these were intermingled blouses of claret, rich warm brown, and the most vivid red. All the women and
children had some positive color about them, if it only amounted to a knot of ribbons, or the glimpse of a
petticoat. I never saw so many bright and comely faces.... The whole picture of the train was such a delight in
form, color, and spirit that I could have lingered near it all the way to Kearney."
Bierstadt was very successful for the next decade, and he made two additional
western journeys, first in 1863. Meanwhile, by late in 1864, Ludlow’s marriage had
fallen apart apparently from mutual infidelity and Ludlow's struggles with opium
addiction. He and his wife Rosalie obtained a divorce in May of 1866 and she ended
up marrying Beirstadt a few months later. The next trip for Bierstadt was from 1871
to 1873. In this latter trip, Bierstadt traveled north and south from San Francisco
and opened an art studio in San Francisco.
western journeys, first in 1863. Meanwhile, by late in 1864, Ludlow’s marriage had
fallen apart apparently from mutual infidelity and Ludlow's struggles with opium
addiction. He and his wife Rosalie obtained a divorce in May of 1866 and she ended
up marrying Beirstadt a few months later. The next trip for Bierstadt was from 1871
to 1873. In this latter trip, Bierstadt traveled north and south from San Francisco
and opened an art studio in San Francisco.
There he met the noted photographer Edward Muybridge. Together,
Muybridge photographed and Bierstadt sketched the native American
culture they encountered. The Indians they met gathered in small, self
contained political units which would later be referred to as "tribelets" by
anthropologists. Soon, in 1869, the trans- continental railroad was
completed, and made the emigrant wagon and other aspects of the great,
mysterious West a part of history. At the right he sketches the Paiutes.
Muybridge photographed and Bierstadt sketched the native American
culture they encountered. The Indians they met gathered in small, self
contained political units which would later be referred to as "tribelets" by
anthropologists. Soon, in 1869, the trans- continental railroad was
completed, and made the emigrant wagon and other aspects of the great,
mysterious West a part of history. At the right he sketches the Paiutes.
From the start, Bierstadt was very successful financially.
After Colonel Lander died in the Civil War, Bierstadt named
one of his famous paintings "The Rocky Mountains, Lander's
Peak." The painting sold for $25,000 in 1865, a very hefty
sum then. Later, it is said he bought it back and gave it to his
brother. Bierstadt was well received both at home and
abroad, where he maintained various art studios.
After Colonel Lander died in the Civil War, Bierstadt named
one of his famous paintings "The Rocky Mountains, Lander's
Peak." The painting sold for $25,000 in 1865, a very hefty
sum then. Later, it is said he bought it back and gave it to his
brother. Bierstadt was well received both at home and
abroad, where he maintained various art studios.
For the next decade his spectacular pictures of Western scenery, with the fantastic play of light and
color, continued to enthrall people. He built a magnificent mansion overlooking the Hudson river and
named it Malkasten. He and his wife toured Europe, mingled with the elite and even met with Queen
Victoria. His wife, Rosalie, needed to live in a warm climate for health reasons and stayed in Nassau,
where her husband also began to paint the tropics. Bierstadt was well respected and especially
generous with various charities. By 1880, his reputation in the art world substantially declined as the
novelty of the Western theme of his paintings waned. Malkasten burned down in 1882 and his wife
died in 1893. Bierstadt, the son of a Solingen barrel maker, died rich and suddenly in 1902.
color, continued to enthrall people. He built a magnificent mansion overlooking the Hudson river and
named it Malkasten. He and his wife toured Europe, mingled with the elite and even met with Queen
Victoria. His wife, Rosalie, needed to live in a warm climate for health reasons and stayed in Nassau,
where her husband also began to paint the tropics. Bierstadt was well respected and especially
generous with various charities. By 1880, his reputation in the art world substantially declined as the
novelty of the Western theme of his paintings waned. Malkasten burned down in 1882 and his wife
died in 1893. Bierstadt, the son of a Solingen barrel maker, died rich and suddenly in 1902.
| Other Figures of the Alt West |
William Hahn also studied in Dusseldorf. He moved to Boston in 1869
and in 1872 to San Francisco where he set up a studio and became a
painter of animal, interior, still life, and genre scenes including Chinatown.
He was Director of the San Francisco Art Association in 1876. He
sketched from San Francisco to Yosemite, the Sierra Nevadas, Alaska,
and So. California.Germans were intrigued with the great mountains and
Indians of the West..
and in 1872 to San Francisco where he set up a studio and became a
painter of animal, interior, still life, and genre scenes including Chinatown.
He was Director of the San Francisco Art Association in 1876. He
sketched from San Francisco to Yosemite, the Sierra Nevadas, Alaska,
and So. California.Germans were intrigued with the great mountains and
Indians of the West..
Johann Georg Kohl, 1808-1878, was commissioned by congress to duplicate his drawings for a
catalog of early American maps in 1856. Between 1855 and 1857, he completed a landmark study of
the history of the North American coastline, showing hydrographic and orthographic descriptions,
route charts and accounts of expeditions and maps. Kohl's drawings were the most comprehensive
collection of cartographic reproductions in America at that time.
catalog of early American maps in 1856. Between 1855 and 1857, he completed a landmark study of
the history of the North American coastline, showing hydrographic and orthographic descriptions,
route charts and accounts of expeditions and maps. Kohl's drawings were the most comprehensive
collection of cartographic reproductions in America at that time.
Arthur Schott was a German-born scientist, artist and musician who was appointed as a "special
scientific collector," to gather botanical, geological, and zoological data and make notes and drawings
of the land of the remote Southeastern regions and its flora and fauna. His images Indian tribes,
including Seminole, Lipan Apache, Yumas, and Kiowa, were valuable contributions.
scientific collector," to gather botanical, geological, and zoological data and make notes and drawings
of the land of the remote Southeastern regions and its flora and fauna. His images Indian tribes,
including Seminole, Lipan Apache, Yumas, and Kiowa, were valuable contributions.
He tackled Indians, the plains, Utah, Mormons, gold, California, the Santa Fe Trail, the Civil War,
the South, and the Great Lakes. He was sometimes called "the German (James F.)Cooper." Duke
Paul Wilhelm of Württemberg, Frederick Wislizenus, Rudolph Kurz, Friederich Gerstäcker, Julius
Fröbel, Friedrich Strubberg, Capitain B. Schmölder and George Engelmann were others who
contributeds to the early exploration, natural history and literature of the USA.
the South, and the Great Lakes. He was sometimes called "the German (James F.)Cooper." Duke
Paul Wilhelm of Württemberg, Frederick Wislizenus, Rudolph Kurz, Friederich Gerstäcker, Julius
Fröbel, Friedrich Strubberg, Capitain B. Schmölder and George Engelmann were others who
contributeds to the early exploration, natural history and literature of the USA.
Friedrich Richard Petri, 1824-1857, was a painter from Dresden who spent 11 years at the Academy
of Fine Arts where he met artist Hermann Lungkwitz. Petri and Lungkwitz immigrated with their
families to the hill country of Texas in 1851. His Indian work documents the native people precisely,
with no stereotypical "savages." His paintings contribute pictorial evidence of the overall friendly
relationship between most German settlers and Indians. Petri accidentally drowned in 1857. Lungwitz
became a well-known landscape painter.
of Fine Arts where he met artist Hermann Lungkwitz. Petri and Lungkwitz immigrated with their
families to the hill country of Texas in 1851. His Indian work documents the native people precisely,
with no stereotypical "savages." His paintings contribute pictorial evidence of the overall friendly
relationship between most German settlers and Indians. Petri accidentally drowned in 1857. Lungwitz
became a well-known landscape painter.
This expedition was a great opportunity. On his return from the West
to New Bedford with his magnificent representations of the American
West, he became the city's most prominent artist. Bierstadt brought
the West alive to people all over the world. All along the way in the
Landler expedition, Bierstadt sketched Indians, pioneers and the
majestic mountains.
to New Bedford with his magnificent representations of the American
West, he became the city's most prominent artist. Bierstadt brought
the West alive to people all over the world. All along the way in the
Landler expedition, Bierstadt sketched Indians, pioneers and the
majestic mountains.
Franz Hölzlhuber, 1826-1898, was a curious Austrian who visited the U.S. from 1856 to 1860,
sketching his observations as he travelled. He spent a lot of time in Wisconsin, the Mississippi River
Valley and Canada. After his return home to Austria, he used his sketches for larger drawings. He
supposedly introduced America to the joys of the Linzertorte after he lost his luggage during one
point in his journey and had to temporarily work as a baker. After he returned to Vienna, he headed
Austrian railway's museum and library.
sketching his observations as he travelled. He spent a lot of time in Wisconsin, the Mississippi River
Valley and Canada. After his return home to Austria, he used his sketches for larger drawings. He
supposedly introduced America to the joys of the Linzertorte after he lost his luggage during one
point in his journey and had to temporarily work as a baker. After he returned to Vienna, he headed
Austrian railway's museum and library.
There was H.B. Möllhausen, who not only wrote over 45 extensive
personal narratives describing his exploring trips in the West, he made
many sketches. Some of his novels were in multiple volumes.
personal narratives describing his exploring trips in the West, he made
many sketches. Some of his novels were in multiple volumes.
Later, when Colonel Frederick W. Lander was hired by the Interior Department in 1859 to survey a
new wagon route north of Salt Lake to California, he took German born landscape painter Albert
Bierstadt along. Bierstadt was enthusiastic at the prospect of painting the western mountains and
Indians. As a child, Bierstadt had moved with his family to New Bedford, Massachusetts in 1833
where his father was a barrel maker. He returned to Germany and studied painting in Düsseldorf
from 1853 to 1857.
new wagon route north of Salt Lake to California, he took German born landscape painter Albert
Bierstadt along. Bierstadt was enthusiastic at the prospect of painting the western mountains and
Indians. As a child, Bierstadt had moved with his family to New Bedford, Massachusetts in 1833
where his father was a barrel maker. He returned to Germany and studied painting in Düsseldorf
from 1853 to 1857.
The work of Schott, Bodmer, Petri and Hölzlhuber
The Bavarian emigrant Christian Barthelmess, 1854-1906, photographed the life of the Cheyenne
Indians around 1880.
Indians around 1880.
Prince Alexander Philipp Maximilian of Wied paved the way for later European expeditions of
explorers and artists to the largely unexplored frontier of North America. Wied was born in 1782 to
an aristocratic family at Neuwied, near the Rhine. In April, 1832, the 50 year old Prince set sail from
Holland for America accompanied by David Dreidoppel, his servant and hunter-taxidermist who had
accompanied him on earlier scientific expeditions to South America, and also by artist Karl Bodmer.
He spent two years on the Western frontier. During their arduous expedition, they met retired
explorer William Clark. In April of 1833, they went up the Missouri River to Nebraska, and from
South Dakota to near the North Dakota-Montana border, and in July they continued to Montana. His
health suffered on the rigorous and dangerous journey. At various times they got lost on the prairie,
saw prairie fires, suffered cold, wet and heat, and got trapped in fierce storms. In 1835, the steamer
carrying his extensive collections and specimens sunk.
explorers and artists to the largely unexplored frontier of North America. Wied was born in 1782 to
an aristocratic family at Neuwied, near the Rhine. In April, 1832, the 50 year old Prince set sail from
Holland for America accompanied by David Dreidoppel, his servant and hunter-taxidermist who had
accompanied him on earlier scientific expeditions to South America, and also by artist Karl Bodmer.
He spent two years on the Western frontier. During their arduous expedition, they met retired
explorer William Clark. In April of 1833, they went up the Missouri River to Nebraska, and from
South Dakota to near the North Dakota-Montana border, and in July they continued to Montana. His
health suffered on the rigorous and dangerous journey. At various times they got lost on the prairie,
saw prairie fires, suffered cold, wet and heat, and got trapped in fierce storms. In 1835, the steamer
carrying his extensive collections and specimens sunk.
However, his observations of Indians accompanied by
hundreds of Bodmer's drawings and paintings, were priceless
enough that he published them, and amid delays and difficulties,
an illustrated account of the journey appeared in a two volume
German edition, a three volume French edition and an inferior,
over-edited, one volume English version where some matters
were considered too "indelicate" for the English and omitted. All
were very expensive to purchase. Today, there are fewer than
twenty known editions of Wied's journal in the United States.
hundreds of Bodmer's drawings and paintings, were priceless
enough that he published them, and amid delays and difficulties,
an illustrated account of the journey appeared in a two volume
German edition, a three volume French edition and an inferior,
over-edited, one volume English version where some matters
were considered too "indelicate" for the English and omitted. All
were very expensive to purchase. Today, there are fewer than
twenty known editions of Wied's journal in the United States.
