The New Britain Museum of American Art has acquired a significant 1858 landscape painting by Harriet Cany Peale, marking an important addition to its collection of Hudson River School works. The painting, titled "Kaaterskill Clove," depicts the scenic Catskill Mountains and was purchased from a private collector with financial support from the Robert C. Vance Foundation.
The oil on canvas work, measuring 91.4 x 63.5 centimeters (approximately 36 x 25 inches), gained notable recognition when it was featured in the 2010 exhibition "Remember the Ladies," which celebrated female artists of the Hudson River School movement. During that groundbreaking exhibition, Peale's landscape was displayed alongside works by other pioneering women artists including Julia Hart Beers, Evelina Mount, Susie Barstow, Eliza Greatorex, and Josephine Walters.
Harriet Cany Peale (1800-1869) was a prominent figure among the female artists associated with the Hudson River School, America's first major art movement. Her 1858 depiction of Kaaterskill Clove captures the dramatic natural beauty of the Catskill region, an area that served as inspiration for countless Hudson River School artists throughout the 19th century. The painting represents the movement's characteristic attention to detailed natural landscapes and romantic interpretation of the American wilderness.
The acquisition represents the museum's continued commitment to expanding its collection of American art, particularly works that highlight the contributions of women artists who were often overlooked in traditional art historical narratives. The financial backing from the Robert C. Vance Foundation made this important purchase possible, ensuring that this significant work of American art history is now accessible to the public.
The painting is now permanently displayed on the walls of the New Britain Museum of American Art, where visitors can appreciate this fine example of 19th-century American landscape painting. This acquisition not only enriches the museum's collection but also contributes to the ongoing recognition of women artists' vital role in shaping American art history during the Hudson River School period.
