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Alexander von Humboldt (1769–1859) was arguably the most important naturalist of the nineteenth century. Born in what is now Germany, he became one of the most widely respected public figures of his generation. He was a pioneer in finding the connections among aspects of the physical world, seeing in the entire planet a "unity of nature" -- a point of view we now take for granted. This exhibition explores how Humboldt's perspective, conveyed initially through his 1804 visit and subsequently through his books and voluminous correspondence, influenced the art and culture of the United States, placing nature at the center of the nation's cultural identity.
While he traveled to the United States only once---for six weeks in 1804---Humboldt was inspired by American democracy, excited for American expansion, and concerned for all races living within its borders. He came to consider himself "half an American," believing that this country's future would be measured by contributions to science and exploration, by the abolition of slavery, and by establishing policies to achieve peaceful co-existence with Native Americans. Humboldt associated nature with an inherent right to individual freedom for all humankind. He described the unique features of the American landscape as monuments equal to the architectural wonders of the ancient world.
Over the next half-century, Humboldt became a voice of authority as a scientist and explorer, encouraging America to implement its founding ideals as the country took its place on the world stage. This exhibition recaptures the immediate, sustained, and profound impact of Humboldt's ideas and how they shaped the careers and artworks made by some of the most significant American artists working during his lifetime. These artists advocated for the power of the fine arts to create a nature-based aesthetic associated with the Hudson River school and the development of the national parks. Charles Willson Peale, Samuel F. B. Morse, and Frederic Church -- among many others -- incorporated Humboldt's insights into some of the strongest aesthetic statements about America's emergent cultural identity. |