| American Paintings — John Rubens Smith (1775-1849) - View of Battery Park at Castle Garden, New York City |
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John Rubens Smith (1775-1849) - View of Battery Park at Castle Garden, New York City |
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John Rubens Smith (1775-1849) - View of Battery Park at Castle Garden, New York City 1845 Medium: Oil on canvas Dimensions: 20" x 24" This splendid view of the port of New York at Battery Park was painted by John Ruben Smith, who masterfully evoked a quiet dusk in the usually bustling harbor. A lone vessel is at anchor near the castle, while in the distance ships sail through the narrows, and a clipper ship is discernible in the near distance. The scene is remarkably evocative, as darkening clouds still tinged with sunlight pass overhead, the darkening water and trees indicating the onset of twilight. Smith was highly influenced by Thomas Chambers, from whom he took elements of his own semi-primitive style, with a particular talent for capturing fleeting effects of light and texture. Smith worked in areas of flat color, highlighting the crests of waves and capturing the translucent quality of the water with great skill. This is a subtly splendid work by this sensitive and talented painter. |
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