Ellen's Isle, Loch Katrine

Robert Seldon Duncanson was a celebrated 19th-century American landscapist, blending his European and African heritage into stunning vistas. Drawing inspiration from eminent American landscape artists such as Thomas Cole, Duncanson became renowned for his landscape paintings, making his mark as a second-generation Hudson River School artist. Most of his career flourished in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he played a key role in shaping the Ohio River Valley landscape tradition. As a free black man in pre-Civil War America, Duncanson skillfully engaged both the American and English abolitionist communities to support and promote his art, earning the distinction of being the first African American artist to gain international recognition. Duncanson's legacy extends to his active participation in the cultural scenes of Cincinnati, Detroit, Montreal, and London. His art has sparked thoughtful debates among art historians, with some like Joseph D. Ketner suggesting that his works contain racial metaphors, while others, including Margaret Rose Vendryes, advocate for appreciating his art beyond a racialized lens.

Beautiful view, isn't it?

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P.P.S. Learn more about Robert Seldon Duncanson's life and his magnificent art. For more 19th-century African American artists, see the articles below.