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Landscape—Scene from "Thanatopsis"

1850
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 736
Inspired by William Cullen Bryant’s poem "Thanatopsis" (Greek for "view of death"), this landscape was first exhibited at the National Academy of Design in 1850. The inclusion of a funeral; a farmer engaged in daily work; and Egyptian, classical, and medieval ruins reflects the poem’s emphasis on the omnipresence of nature and the inevitability of death. After the exhibition, Durand’s painting was purchased by the American Art-Union and distributed to one of its subscribers. The organization often acquired contemporary landscapes, helping to popularize the genre with middle-class consumers who sought appealing and affordable works for display in their homes.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Landscape—Scene from "Thanatopsis"
  • Artist: Asher Brown Durand (American, Jefferson, New Jersey 1796–1886 Maplewood, New Jersey)
  • Date: 1850
  • Culture: American
  • Medium: Oil on canvas
  • Dimensions: 39 1/2 x 61 in. (100.3 x 154.9 cm)
  • Credit Line: Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1911
  • Object Number: 11.156
  • Curatorial Department: The American Wing

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Cover Image for 4348. Landscape—Scene from "Thanatopsis", Part 1

4348. Landscape—Scene from "Thanatopsis", Part 1

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