“Landscape with Rainbow”

Posted on by The Wandering Art Historian

I had no idea that an elaborate gift-giving ceremony was among the many events included in the United States presidential inauguration festivities.  However, my ears pricked up when I heard the words “art” and “painting” and here we are!

“Landscape with Rainbow” was painted by Robert Seldon Duncanson in 1859.  Duncanson followed the typical path for young artists, namely, a trip to Europe to study the Old Masters in 1853. His studies of the Old Masters and his dedication to his craft all paid off because he was consistently referred to as the “best landscape painter in the West” by the American press.

Dr. Jill Biden and Senator Roy Blunt chose this painting for the gift-giving ceremony because of the inclusion of the rainbow and the shared hope of “good things to follow” as Dr. Biden explained. 

Personally, I find this choice of artwork superb in that it is not only symbolic of a hopeful future, but it also highlights an artist of color who was highly celebrated in his own lifetime.  While Robert S. Duncanson may not be a household name in modern times, bringing this artist to the forefront of current events and to further discussion in the art world is one way to ensure that we do not forget the artists of color who have contributed to American art since its inception.

For more information on “Landscape with Rainbow” by Robert S. Duncanson, please visit…

https://americanart.si.edu/artist/robert-s-duncanson-1353

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I am writer and artist with a degree in art history who loves to talk to people about art. I have spent the last seven years building up The Wandering Art Historian “brand” as a way to connect with people who want to learn more about art. I give lectures and presentations and teach classes and host book club discussions with a creative or artistic connection. I also write about local artists, events, museums, and exhibitions to promote the arts in Central Florida. In 2021, I had a creative crisis. I struggled with authenticity in the art making process. I decided to make myself vulnerable and find out what a real, genuine Adrienne H. Lee artwork would look like. The process was challenging and emotional and revelatory. I learned that if necessity is the mother of invention, then authenticity is the mother of reinvention. I reinvented myself and learned an entirely new medium. The resulting artwork surprised me, and it will surprise you, too. Some people wish for a fairytale ending. For me, the fairy tale is only the beginning.