Albert Bierstadt (1830-1902) was a 19th century painter who is best known for his paintings on the sweeping landscapes of the unsettled American West. He was born in Solingen, Germany and his family later moved to New Bedford, Massachusetts. For the purpose of his painting he traveled a lot to Westward Expansion. Although, he was not the first artist to imitate the vast landscapes in his canvas, he was the foremost painter of these scenes for the remainder of the 19th century. Bierstadt was also a part of the Hudson River School, which was linked with the style of luminism. Luminism was a style of carefully detailed paintings with romantic and almost glowing light. Because of Bierstadt’s works in the landscape paintings, Mount Bierstadt and Bierstadt Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park are named after him. When Bierstadt was at the peak of his career during the mid-1860s, his 6’X10’ canvases were sold for up to $30,000. He was very wealthy at that time and lived in a mansion. His golden days turned dark when his house burned to ashes and his wife died. During his death in a New York City flat, he was broke. The artist and his works have been rediscovered today. He would always be an inspiration for thousands of artists who are into landscape painting.
