The Hudson River Schools of Art and their Ice Age Origins
Saturday, March 22 · 2 - 4pm
The Willows at Brandow Point
480 Route 385 Athens, NY 12015
Join Robert and Johanna Titus for a presentation on the ice age history that inspired the arts of the Hudson Valley.
In the 19th century, the Hudson Valley experienced a cultural Renaissance, giving rise to America’s first world-class literature, landscape architecture, and the Hudson River School of Art, led by Thomas Cole. We argue that none of this would have happened without the region’s heavy glaciation.
We explore how glaciers shaped the landscapes that inspired great artists. As the ice retreated, glacial lakes like Lake Albany formed, leaving behind sediment platforms. The Livingston family built mansions on these, incorporating planned scenic views that influenced American landscape architecture. Understanding this Ice Age history enriches appreciation of the region’s artistic legacy—our ultimate goal.
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