In the 19th century, a group of NYC-based landscape painters created what would later be coined as America’s first art movement, the Hudson River School. With the gorgeous Hudson River Valley, Catskill Mountains and surrounding natural areas as their muse, these painters forged a style that would influence American art, identity and culture. Stephanie Heydt, Director of Collections and Exhibitions at the New Britain Museum of American Art, leads this dynamic exploration of the movement that launched not only the direction of nineteenth-century art in this country, but also a uniquely American story.

In this session, we will:

• Learn about the Movement: Learn about the Hudson River School and its emergence in American culture; meet key figures including the movement’s “founding father,” Thomas Cole, and Frederic Edwin Church and Asher B. Durand.

• Discover the Landscape: Understand how the region’s natural beauty shaped the artistic vision of these painters.

• Examine Artistic Techniques: Explore techniques and styles used by the Hudson River School painters.

• Consider the Enduring Legacy: Hear how this movement influenced American art, society and identity. 

Led by Stephanie Heydt, Director of Collections and Exhibitions at the New Britain Museum of American Art (NBMAA) and a specialist in nineteenth- and twentieth-century American painting. Previously, Stephanie worked at the High Museum in Atlanta as the Margaret and Terry Stent Curator of American Art from 2009 to 2023. She also held positions at the Gulf Coast Museum of Art, Harvard University Art Museums and the Terra Museum of American Art. A graduate of Cornell University, Stephanie earned her MA in art history from the University of Chicago and her PhD from Boston University.