American Art Archives - Page 2 of 5

Foreign butterflies occurring in the three continents Asia, Africa and America Pl.069 (1779-1782)

Pieter Cramer (Dutch, 1721–1776)

Delicate wings unfurl across continents—vibrant patterns from Asia, Africa, and America preserved in precise lines. Each curve and spot maps a fleeting life, pinned not by science alone but by wonder.
Henry Cabot Lodge

John Singer Sargent (American, 1856-1925)

A stern-faced politician gazes past the viewer, his tailored suit and rigid posture exuding authority. The play of light sharpens his angular features, hinting at both intellect and unyielding resolve. This is a man accustomed to power, captured with unflinching precision.
Cornelius Vanderbilt II (1890)

John Singer Sargent (American, 1856-1925)

A stern gaze meets the viewer—Cornelius Vanderbilt II’s posture rigid, his tailored suit immaculate. The portrait exudes power, wealth barely contained beneath the surface. There’s no warmth here, only the quiet authority of a man accustomed to command.
Landscape

George Inness (American, 1825–1894)

A misty field stretches toward distant hills, bathed in soft golden light. Trees sway gently, their shadows merging with the earth. The air feels thick with quiet—not empty, but alive, as if the land itself is breathing. Something lingers just beyond sight, pulling you deeper into the scene.
Portrait of the Artist’s Wife, Helene (1896)

Carl Newman (American, unknown)

A woman gazes past the frame, her expression unreadable. The soft light catches the folds of her dress, hinting at quiet dignity. There’s a story in her stillness—one she hasn’t decided to tell.
Mrs. Thomas Hastings (circa 1901)

John White Alexander (American, 1856–1915)

A woman in black lace gazes past the viewer, her poised elegance softened by the hint of a distant thought. The delicate fabric drapes around her, catching light and shadow with quiet grace. There’s something unspoken in her stillness—neither melancholy nor joy, but a private world just beyond reach.
Boat on Sea

Edward Mitchell Bannister (American, 1828–1901)

A lone boat drifts on dark water, its sails barely catching the wind. The horizon blurs into the sky, leaving only the quiet struggle between vessel and waves. No land in sight—just endless sea and the fragile craft pressing onward.
Foreign butterflies occurring in the three continents Asia, Africa and America Pl.398 (1779-1782)

Pieter Cramer (Dutch, 1721–1776)

Vibrant wings unfold across continents—Asia’s delicate patterns, Africa’s bold hues, America’s intricate designs. Each butterfly, a fleeting visitor, pinned to the page yet alive with color. The world’s far corners meet in these paper-thin specimens, their silent flight preserved in ink and line.
Two Cows in a Pasture

Harry Ives Thompson (American, 1840–1906)

Two cows stand in a sunlit pasture, their shadows stretching across the grass. One lifts its head, ears twitching at some distant sound. The air smells of earth and warm hide. A quiet moment, ordinary yet alive—just cows being cows, framed by light and open space.