Reference the Hudson River art tradition-Thomas Cole painted one of my favorite scenes, "The Oxbow," in 1836. The Oxbow is a familiar bend in many streams and rivers and even cave streams as I always think of a cut-around cave passage which started as an oxbow. Over the years we have spent considerable time in the Hudson Valley, including visiting Frederic Church's wonderful home at Olana, and this fall we will tour Thomas Cole's home at Cedar Grove. Not really cave related but Albert Bierstadt was of that Hudson River Valley period and on my last hiking trip to Colorado two years ago I hiked to the top of Mt. Bierstadt, a 14eer. If we were anyplace close to Ft. Worth we would visit that art museum. Now to research more on Robert S. Duncanson, and especially his painting "The Caves." Maybe I can get a poster copy. I have had a small copy of the "Oxbow" on my basement wall for decades.
Preston from Outer Browder, KY ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ----- Original Message ----- From: R D Milhollin To: Texascavers List ; List: Allcavers ; Cowtown Grotto e-mail list Sent: Friday, May 10, 2013 11:40 AM Subject: [Texascavers] Amon Carter Acquires Painting "The Caves" http://www.cartermuseum.org/press/releases/amon-carter-museum-of-american-art-announces-acquisition-of-its-first-painting-by-19th-century-artist-robert Fort Worth;s Amon Carter of American Art has acquired a large painting by Robert Seldon Duncanson (1821-1872) entitles "The Cave painted in 1869. "Impressive in scale, the painting is approximately 3 feet tall and is in magnificent condition. The Caves is painted in the Hudson River School tradition, which was an inspiration to Duncanson after he viewed works by Thomas Cole and other Hudson River School artists at Cincinnati’s Western Art Union in the late 1840s. The scene depicts an intimate view of the wilderness, with unusual geographic features of steep ravines and sandstone cliffs perforated by a canopy of evergreens and a trio of caverns. “At first glance, the scene suggests a documented view of untouched nature,” says Rebecca Lawton, curator of paintings and sculpture. “But then we notice three figures making their way up a steep incline toward the mouths of the caves. Here is a link to an article that has the painting pictured: http://www.artdaily.org/index.asp?int_sec=11&int_new=62279#.UY0iYJWXG9s Something new to show to visiting cavers who stay in Fort Worth. If you don't have (natural) caves, having great art depicting caves will have to do!
