Five Most Famous American Artists and Their Masterpieces

The history of American art provides a fascinating visual journey that stretches for almost three centuries of outstanding growth and transformation. It is a compelling journey that has coincided with iconic moments in the history of the U.S.A. such as the Civil War and the country’s rapid rise to international power. Museums across USA have a diverse collection of artists’ works that prove how American art has grown and transformed under the influence and inspiration of varying factors. Five of the most famous American artists whose masterpieces are still a source of awe in most museum collections include John Singer Sargent, Winslow Homer, Edward Potthast, Thomas Moran and Gilbert Stuart. Each of them occupies a prized position in the long list of American artists because of their ingenuity.

1. Fumée d’Ambre Gris, painted by John Singer Sargent (1856–1925)

John Singer Sargent was an American artist who was renowned for his portraits of the famous figures. His paintings were far from idealistic, meaning that he was placed in the realist camp. He is also considered a generalist due to his technique of fusing different styles – impressionism, classical portraits, and landscapes.

Fumée d’Ambre Gris painted in 1880 was his first significant Orientalist canvas that demonstrated his ability to portray the exotic. It depicts a veiled lady who holds a sheet over her head to catch the fumes of ambergris in a courtyard. Ambergris was commonly used in fumigation rituals in North African Muslim traditions to ward off demonic spirits during important events such as childbirth and marriage. Apart from the figurative aspects of the painting, the symphony of color and its visual appeal stands out. As an Orientalist, Sargent combined light and color perfectly so that the former allows for little shadow. The shadow is only visible behind the woman, thereby making her outline more distinct and accentuating the warmer tones of her clothing against the white color behind her. The artist’s enlightened vision provides a way of depicting the Oriental woman while embedding fantasy and mystery in the image.

2. Breezing Up, also known as A Fair Wind, Painted by Winslow Homer (1836–1910)

Winslow Homer was a landscape painter who was renowned for marine subjects that depicted 19th-century life. Additionally, he mastered both oil and watercolor painting in his career. His ingenuity in watercolor paintings lies in the fresh style and bold use of uncorrupted washes of color.

The painting Breezing Up also has an exotic aspect to it due to its Japanese influence. It depicts life on a breezy day on a coast where a man and three boys are shown seemingly enjoying the waves on their catboat. There is a sense of calm and relaxed atmosphere that is magnificently captured by the composition - notice the boat only has one sail and the boy controlling the till is so comfortable that he handled it with one hand. The artist used the composition to represent hope (anchor in the boat’s bow) and optimism (the gaze into the horizon by the sailors). When the painting completed in 1876, it signifies the spirit, confidence, and hope for American life when the country was a century old after gaining her independence.

3. Girls Playing in Surf, painted by Edward Potthast (1857–1927)

Edward Potthast was an Impressionist painter who is renowned for his paintings of subjects at leisure on the beaches of New York and in Central Park. His style of art reflected the application of subdued colors and contrasts.

Girls Playing in Surf painted in is symbolic of his fondness for Impressionist painting. He portrayed the ocean beach adjacent to New York City with this painting, indicating the extent of his excursions along the shores of Long Island. The brilliant color-saturated scene of the beach speaks of the vibrant nature of his mood. Some writers link the artist’s beach scenes with painters such as Robert Henri and Maurice Prendergast. Nevertheless, Potthast’s inspiration after 1915 remained the ocean beaches adjacent to New York City and this is the subject that he still remembered.

4. Venetian Scene, painted by Thomas Moran (1902)

Thomas Moran was a landscape painter whose renderings of waterfalls, springs, and geysers contributed to the decision by Congress to develop America’s first national park. His style mostly focused on the vibrant, color-filled celebration of landscapes.

His Venetian Scene painted in 1895 is a landscape painting that portrays a glistening view of Venice, Italy. What speaks volumes about it is how J.M.W. Turner influenced it on various levels. For example, Thomas admired how Turner handled light and color, and he embraced his poetic revels of color before incorporating Venice as a subject. In this painting, Thomas portrayed the Venetian atmospheric effects of sunset/rise on the still waters. He integrated brilliant colors on the palette to depict the magnificent tints across the sky and sea. It is evident that he was attracted to Venice due to its “expanse of meeting sky and water and incredibly picturesque buildings only needed only a sunset or moon rise to give them the evanescence of a mirage on a sea of light”. The painting provides a glimpse into the artist’s admiration of a city and its elaborate presentation.

5. George Washington, painted by Gilbert Stuart (1755–1828)

Gilbert Stuart is considered one of America’s greatest portraitists. He painted portraits of prominent Americans, among them the nation’s five presidents. He is remembered for introducing the loose, brushy style that had been used in the late 18th century to America.

George Washington painted in 1803 is iconic as it depicts the engraved image of George Washington - first president of the United States of America. It is a painting that represents his likeness, the aesthetic and political trappings of the highest office and the New Republic. The portrait was then considered for the face of Washington on the $1 bill, underlining the value of one of the nation’s foremost portraitists. Washington had played a critical role during the American Revolution, and artists lined up to depict him as a military leader except for Stuart who chose to portray him as an official symbol of Washington.

It is evident that some of the most recognizable artists from the U.S. got their inspiration from a diverse set of factors. Most of them, such as Stuart and Homer, depicted events and figures associated with the history of the United States. The source of inspiration notwithstanding, their creativity and ingenuity continue to influence modern artists to transform American art. The five artists will continue to hold a special place in the annals of American art.