Merced River, Yosemite Valley
In May 1863 Bierstadt took his second trip to the West. By August he was sketching in California’s Yosemite Valley, probably inspired by the stereoscopic photographs Carleton E. Watkins made there in 1861. Back in New York, Bierstadt painted several large works based on his on-site sketches. In this canvas, monumental jagged peaks dwarf a group of figures, likely Miwok people, who had inhabited the valley for millennia. As the artist painted, the government sought to protect the land, eventually forming a National Park in 1890. The Miwok lived there until they were forced to leave in 1969.
Artwork Details
- Title:Merced River, Yosemite Valley
- Artist:Albert Bierstadt (American, Solingen 1830–1902 New York)
- Date:1866
- Culture:American
- Medium:Oil on canvas
- Dimensions:36 x 50 in. (91.4 x 127 cm)
- Credit Line:Gift of the sons of William Paton, 1909
- Object Number:09.214.1
- Curatorial Department: The American Wing
More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Albert Bierstadt (American, Solingen 1830–1902 New York)
ca. 1891
After Albert Bierstadt (American, Solingen 1830–1902 New York)
ca. 1869
Albert Bierstadt (American, Solingen 1830–1902 New York)
1890
Albert Bierstadt (American, Solingen 1830–1902 New York)
1890
Albert Bierstadt (American, Solingen 1830–1902 New York)
1890
Related Content
Publications
Books, guides, and catalogues published by The Met.
Free to download
Research Resources
The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.
Feedback
We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please contact us using the form below. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.