The way of the Landscapes
land
Like the ancients, American painters used landscapes to convey a deeper more symbolic message. The Hudson River School was a fraternity of painters that used nature and landscapes to address man’s relationship with the sublime and demonstrate the potential of America. For example, Johann Hermann Carmiencke's 1861 "Hudson River at Cold Spring," through the enormity of the land in relation to the human settlement, demonstrates humanity's lack of significance in the grand scheme of the world. Though most paintings by artists of the Hudson River School are usually relatively realistic, the subjects do not usually exist. Though the landscape is imaginary, it conveys the greatness of nature as opposed to the power of an emperor.
Overall, both the ancient Romans and relatively modern painters used landscapes to showcase a higher message and to idealize nature for their respective agendas.
In the ancient world, Rome in particular, landscapes were used to demonstrate the prosperity of the times. The style was often overly exaggerated as a way of emphasizing abundance. One such example is the Fresco of Garden Wall from the Villa of Livia. The fresco is currently in the Palazzo Massimo, in a room that's light continually changes to show the colors in different ways. The villa, where the piece was discovered, was the summer home of Augustus' wife Livia. Augustus wanted his reign to be synonymous with peace and known as a golden age for prosperity, which adds context to the unusual landscape. The fresco features a lush landscape of ever sprouting plants and scattered birds, which was meant to show the great things that sprout from Augustus' leadership. The piece has many plants, trees, and fruits that would never grow together in real life, which is meant to convey the message that Augustus makes the impossible possible. Though, to some, this fresco may look like a generic landscape is represents a greater message.
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Photo Credit:http://americanart.si.edu/images/1976/1976.62_1a.jpg
Photo Credit:https://65.media.tumblr.com/24a264881fd487f9c9ed89eccb84fcbc1/tumblr_np4thvTyNb1u0dmcio1_1280.jpg