Ellen's Isle, Loch Katrine

The author of today's stunning landscape was Robert S. Duncanson, born in 1821 in New York. He was the grandson of a freed slave from Virginia. His father lived in Virginia until growing hostility toward free Black men prompted the family to move north. They eventually settled in Michigan. As a young man, Duncanson was self-taught in painting, developing his craft in Cincinnati, known as "the Athens of the West."

At some point, Duncanson developed a deep passion for landscape painting. He was particularly inspired by travel prints and exploration journals. The artist himself started going on sketching trips across the country to gather material and inspiration for his work back in Cincinnati. In the early 1850s, Duncanson focused on the Ohio River Valley, striving to elevate his topographical studies into romantic landscapes infused with literary allusions.

In 1853, Duncanson embarked on the traditional "grand tour" of Europe, a rite of passage for many artists of his time. This journey exposed him to European art and further enriched his landscape work, making his works more popular and internationally known.

We present this work as part of the Black History Month's celebrations.  :)

P.S. Read more about the painter whose inspiring success challenged stereotypes about African American artists. Here's the story of Robert S. Duncanson.