One of the first things that comes to mind when looking at a painting or piece of art, aside from admiration of its style, is the question of where it came from. It’s fascinating thinking about the mind-set of the artist, and trying to figure out where they were or what they were thinking about during the inception of the piece. Inspiration can come in many forms and is manifested in different ways depending on the artist. Here we take a look at some famous landscape paintings and the real locations that inspired their creation.
Christina’s World – Andrew Wyeth
Created by American artist Andrew Wyeth, this is one of the most well-known paintings of the 20th century. The piece, which features a woman lying in the grass down field from two buildings, is actually a depiction of the Olson House in Cushing, Maine, United States. Years after the painting was conceived, the owner of the pictured house had it refurbished to match the depiction in the painting.
Chalk Cliffs on Rügen – Caspar David Friedrich
This oil painting by Caspar David Friedrich portrays the white chalk cliffs of the Stubbenkammer on the island of Rügen. The painting was conceived while painter Friedrich was on honeymoon with his new bride, Christiane Caroline Bommer. Created in 1818, the piece now resides in Museum Oskar Reinhart in Switzerland.
Looking Down Yosemite Valley – Albert Bierstadt
This beautifully detailed piece by German-American painter, Albert Bierstadt portrays one of California’s most iconic sights. Bierstadt produced several landscape portrayals of the Yosemite Valley but this was his first full large-scale painting. It was created in 1865 and is currently being displayed at the Birmingham Museum of Art.
Along the River during the Qingming Festival – Zhang Zeduan
Created during the Song Dynasty, this incredibly intricate handscroll painting was completed by artist Zhang Zeduan over a period of 60 years. The canvas stretches over 17 feet, illustrating the daily lives of people in China as well as celebrations during the Qingming Festival.
Cass – Rita Angus
As one of the leading creator of New Zealand art, Rita Angus was well known for her landscapes and her portrait pieces. This iconic piece of imagery is a portrayal of Cass in Canterbury, New Zealand. Angus’s approach to this piece involved meticulous planning and observation before finishing the painting in the studio.
Browse our landscapes art here.
