Date: Fri 05-Jun-1998

Publication: Ant

Author: CAROLL

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Albany Institute Of History And Art

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ALBANY, N.Y. -- The Albany Institute of History & Art continues to build its

collection of Hudson River School landscape paintings with the acquisition of

Sanford R. Gifford's "Mount Merino and the City of Hudson in Autumn." The

painting will be on view through September 6 in the second-floor alcove as

part of the institute's "New Acquisitions" exhibition.

"The institute has been interested in acquiring a painting by Gifford for a

number of years, not only because he is a second generation Hudson River

School painter, but also because he was born in Greenfield in Saratoga County

in 1823," explains Tammis Groft, Albany Institute of History & Art chief

curator. "Because we have related Gifford materials, this painting is such a

perfect match for the institute. A particular strength of the museum's mission

is that we collect, preserve, and interpret objects that reflect the

contextual relationship between these objects and their makers and owners."

Related Hudson River School materials in the museum's collection include 65

paintings, drawings, sketch books, scrapbooks, letters and photographs. The

institute's Gifford materials include his box of English watercolors,

inscribed "S.R. Gifford 1848," seven sketch books dating from 1848-1859, an

1850 oil portrait of his sister, Cornelia, who died at age 16 of tuberculosis,

and an 1871 bronze portrait bust of Gifford by the Albany sculptor Launt

Thompson. The bronze was given to Albany Institute by the Gifford family; the

only other known bust is in the collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art

in New York.

"Mount Merino and the City of Hudson in Autumn" was painted about 1851. This

painting is an early example of Gifford's work and clearly reflects his

admiration for the work of Thomas Cole. It is classic early Gifford and shows

his strong interest in pictorial composition, meticulous attention to detail,

subtle use of color and his light-filled atmospheres.

The city of Hudson and the Catskill Mountains were favorite subjects. Scholars

believe the painting is based directly on a sketch dated 1851 that Gifford

made from his family's property. Gifford typically went from pencil sketch to

oil sketch to medium to large canvases. The whereabouts of the small oil

sketch and large painting are unknown, making this the only known painting of

this popular view in Gifford's repertoire.

Born on July 10, 1823, in Greenfield, Saratoga County, Sanford R. Gifford was

the fourth of 11 children. Unlike most of his contemporary Hudson River School

painters, Gifford attended college, spending two years at Brown University

from 1842-1844. He moved to New York City and studied with John Rubens Smith,

an accomplished drawing master. Gifford also studied with Henry Ary, a local

painter from Hudson, N.Y., who introduced Gifford to the work of Cole. He was

elected a member of the National Academy of Design in 1854. Prior to that he

was a member of the New York Sketch Club (1847-1849). Gifford actively

participated in the Civil War, serving as a member of the 7th Regiment of the

NYS National Guard. He served three tours of duty in the defense of

Washington. He spent his remaining years at a studio in the Studio Building on

West 10th Street until his death in 1880.

The painting is on view at the institute through September 6. The museum is

located at 125 Washington Avenue. Hours are Wednesday through Sunday, noon

until 5 pm. Museum admission for adults is $3. Wednesdays are free to the

general public. For information, 518/463-4478.