Albert Bierstadt

Albert Bierstadt was born in Solingen, Germany in 1830. When he was two years old his family moved to Massachusetts. In 1853 he moved back to Germany where he refined his technical skills by painting the Alpine landscapes. When he returned to America four years later he joined surveyors headed west. During his travels he sketched and took pictures of the mountains and landscapes. He was always fascinated by the majestic mountains. Because of his experience traveling he painted giant canvases which he put in his New York studio. The Portico of Octavia Rome was the first painting bought which really started his career.

He exhibited at the Boston Athenaeum for five years starting in 1859, Brooklyn Art Association in 1861-1879, and other exhibits all the while keeping his studio open. Then in 1867 he married a woman of poor health named Rosalie. After they got married they went to London where Albert met with Queen Victoria. Because of his wife’s bad health they moved to a warmer climate where he started to paint tropical scenes.

Albert Bierstadt – Tropical Landscape With Fishing Boats In Bay – Landscape, oil paintings on canvas.

After suddenly dying in 1902 the people forgot about him until the 1960’s when people became interested in preserving the land. It is known that he has completed over 500 works and could have possibly done as many as 5000, most of which have survived.

The Morteratsch Glacier Upper Engadine Valley – Pontresina: 1895