Artwork
Graves of Travellers, Fort Kearny, Nebraska
Graves of Travellers, Fort Kearny, Nebraska is an unspecified painting by the Hudson River School artist Worthington Whittredge. It dates from 1866 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Technique & Style
The piece exemplifies mid‑19th‑century American landscape practice, employing pigment applied to a prepared surface to achieve a flat, descriptive image.
The work titled "Graves of Travellers, Fort Kearny, Nebraska" is a 1866 painting by Worthington Whittredge, classified as a painting and held in the Cleveland Museum of Art.
Its visual format is a rectangular support measuring approximately 18.8 by 56.5 (units as recorded), featuring a solitary tree as the primary motif. The piece exemplifies mid‑19th‑century American landscape practice, employing pigment applied to a prepared surface to achieve a flat, descriptive image.
History & Provenance
Graves of Travellers, Fort Kearny, Nebraska is a painting created by Worthington Whittredge in 1866. The work was made in the United States and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it is catalogued under accession number 1969.19. The sources do not provide details on a commissioning party, prior ownership, intermediate provenance, or circumstances of its creation prior to entering the museum's holdings.
The painting Graves of Travellers, Fort Kearny, Nebraska by Worthington Whittredge is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. The work carries the accession number 1969.19 within the institution's records. Created in 1866, the piece depicts a tree and was produced in the United States.
Overview
Worthington Whittredge's 1866 painting, Graves of Travellers, Fort Kearny, Nebraska, captures a somber western landscape. This work by the American artist, associated with the Hudson River School, depicts a wide-open plain under a cloudy sky, featuring a solitary figure amidst simple grave markers. It reflects Whittredge's extensive travels and his characteristic engagement with natural settings. The painting is held in the collection of The Cleveland Museum of Art.
Subject & Meaning
The painting presents a vast, open expanse, dominated by a cloudy sky and a flat, grassy foreground dotted with wildflowers and small bushes. A dirt path leads the eye towards a lone individual standing near weathered stones, which signify a burial ground for pioneers or travelers. A solitary tree, a recurring element in Whittredge's compositions, stands prominently, emphasizing the isolation and quiet solemnity of the scene.
Artist & collection
Artist
Thomas Worthington Whittredge (May 22, 1820 – February 25, 1910) was an American artist of the Hudson River School.
