Artwork
View of Lake Pepin, Minnesota
View of Lake Pepin, Minnesota is an oil painting by the Hudson River School artist Robert Seldon Duncanson. It dates from 1862 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The work presents a landscape of Lake Pepin, Minnesota, centered on a view of the lake that includes a prominent tree and a distant mountain.
The work presents a landscape of Lake Pepin, Minnesota, centered on a view of the lake that includes a prominent tree and a distant mountain. Executed in oil on canvas in 1862 by Robert Seldon Duncanson, the painting reflects the mid‑nineteenth‑century interest in documenting the American frontier’s natural features. The inclusion of a tree and a mountain functions iconographically as markers of geographic specificity and wilderness, while the overall composition conveys the era’s fascination with untouched scenery.
The piece is catalogued in the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it remains part of the institution’s collection.
Technique & Style
View of Lake Pepin, Minnesota is executed in oil paint on canvas, a standard support for mid-nineteenth-century American landscape painting. The work measures 30.2 cm in height by 54.5 cm in width, yielding a horizontal format suited to its panoramic subject. The composition depicts trees and mountains, consistent with Duncanson's Hudson River School-influenced handling of natural scenery. The painting is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
History & Provenance
Robert Seldon Duncanson created the oil painting View of Lake Pepin, Minnesota in 1862 within the United States. The work, executed on canvas, depicts a landscape featuring trees and mountains. While specific details regarding the original commission or early ownership transfers are not provided in the available records, the painting eventually entered the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
It is currently held by this institution under the accession number 1947.198, indicating its acquisition or cataloging by the museum in 1947. The piece measures approximately 30.2 cm in height and 54.5 cm in width.
The painting View of Lake Pepin, Minnesota is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. The work is identified within the institution's records by the accession number 1947.198. Created in 1862, this oil on canvas piece remains part of the museum's holdings in Cleveland, Ohio.
The provided sources confirm the location and accession details but do not list specific past exhibitions or a detailed provenance history beyond its current repository.
Overview
Robert Seldon Duncanson, an American painter of the 19th century with European and African heritage, completed View of Lake Pepin, Minnesota in 1862. This oil painting captures a serene natural vista, characteristic of the landscape tradition he worked within. The work is now part of the collection at The Cleveland Museum of Art, representing a significant piece from his oeuvre.
Context
Working primarily from his base in Cincinnati, Ohio, Robert Seldon Duncanson was a notable figure in American landscape painting. He drew inspiration from the Hudson River School, particularly from artists like Thomas Cole, and played a role in shaping the distinct landscape tradition of the Ohio River Valley. His work, including this depiction of Lake Pepin, reflects his engagement with these artistic currents.
Artist & collection
Artist
Robert Seldon Duncanson (c. 1821 – December 21, 1872) was a 19th-century American landscapist of European and African ancestry. Inspired by famous American landscape artists like Thomas Cole, Duncanson created renowned…
