Lot Essay
Mount Merino on the Hudson Near Olana depicts countryside that was familiar to Gifford, as his parents' house was located in nearby Hudson, New York. Mount Merino, seen across the water, was named for the Merino sheep that grazed there. In the far distance are visible the Catskills Mountains, a favorite subject matter for the artist during this period of his career.
The palette of Mount Merino on the Hudson Near Olana is typical of Gifford's work from the late 1850s and early 1860s. He has applied various touches of muted browns, yellows and greens in a lively, painterly fashion. His treatment of the sky is smooth and clear, and reflects the artist's increasing interest in the effects of light and atmosphere.
The palette of Mount Merino on the Hudson Near Olana is typical of Gifford's work from the late 1850s and early 1860s. He has applied various touches of muted browns, yellows and greens in a lively, painterly fashion. His treatment of the sky is smooth and clear, and reflects the artist's increasing interest in the effects of light and atmosphere.