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jasper francis cropsey |
1842 – 1849
Cropsey struck out on his own in 1842, taking architectural commissions
while continuing his development as an artist. The National Academy of Design exhibited
Cropsey’s "Italian Composition" in 1842. As Cropsey had never left
America, this painting was modeled from observations of other works. Most of
Cropsey’s paintings were of nature. Jasper Cropsey was becoming known as a painter of
the group associated with Thomas Cole, later known as "The Hudson River School". |
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Solitude, 1845
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Cropsey admired the work of Cole and
other American landscape painters, and he felt that landscape painting was the highest art
form. He believed that nature was a direct manifestation of God. Cropsey also believed
that the natural beauty and ruggedness of America’s unspoiled land was the
country’s defining characteristic. |
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This reverence of nature led
Cropsey and the other Hudson River painters to depict nature as accurately and in as much
detail as possible. Jasper Cropsey also believed that this style of landscape painting was
American in origin and was a means to developing America’s cultural independence. |
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Cottage on Upper Greenwood
Lake, 1847 |
Cropsey traveled to Greenwood Lake, New
Jersey in 1844 to paint the lake and the surrounding landscape. Greenwood Lake was well
known as an idyllic, picturesque area of green banks and placid water. "Greenwood
Lake, Orange County" was completed in 1844 and exhibited at the
Academy of Design, earning Cropsey an associate membership to the Academy;
at 21, he was the youngest ever to be bestowed this honor.
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The next few years were very
prosperous ones for Cropsey, as his fame and talents grew. Cropsey was being
offered more and more commissions as the demand for his work increased.
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 While
exploring the Greenwood Lake area, Cropsey met Miss Maria Cooley, and it was
her charms as much as the beautiful surroundings that kept Cropsey returning
to the area. Jasper Cropsey and Maria Cooley were married in 1847. The
newlyweds were to travel to Europe as a honeymoon and for Jasper to continue
his development as an artist and study European landscapes and other
artists’ works
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Armed with the proceeds from newly
commissioned works, the couple embarked on their first European trip. In Europe, Cropsey
studied paintings in museums and galleries, in addition
to exploring the European architecture. Soon, Cropsey began sketching European
landscapes and ruins, as well as doing some figurative work painting. The trip, landing in
England then proceeding to France and Italy, paralleled trips made by Cole and other
American artists abroad. The Cropseys settled in Rome where Jasper worked English and
Scottish sketches into finished works. The Cropseys returned to America in 1849. |
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Rugged Mountain Scene (Italian), 1847
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1823-1841
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1850-1862
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1863-1900
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