Artwork

Landscape with Dog

Landscape with Dog, by Thomas Doughty, oil, 1832
Landscape with Dog, by Thomas Doughty, oil, 1832

Landscape with Dog is an oil painting by the Hudson River School artist Thomas Doughty. It dates from 1832 and is held in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago.

About this work

You see a quiet river winding through green hills, a small white dog trotting along the bank under a soft sky.

You see a quiet river winding through green hills, a small white dog trotting along the bank under a soft sky.

Doughty painted this in 1832, when most American artists were still copying European styles. He chose a simple scene—no grand mountains or famous people—just land and light. The dog feels like a real moment, not a symbol.

To see how other artists painted everyday nature, look up the technique called *glazing*.

Overview

Landscape with Dog is a painting by Thomas Doughty, executed in oil on composition board in 1832. It is part of the Art Institute of Chicago's collection.

Subject & Meaning

The painting depicts a serene landscape featuring a winding river, green hills, and a small white dog on the riverbank under a soft sky. The scene is straightforward, focusing on the natural world without grand or narrative elements.

Technique & Style

Doughty's work is notable for its departure from the prevalent European influences of the time. The representation of the dog suggests an emphasis on capturing a genuine moment rather than using it as a symbolic element.

Context

The painting's focus on everyday natural scenery and its technique, potentially involving glazing, relate to a broader interest among artists in depicting the mundane aspects of nature.

Artist & collection

Portrait of Thomas Doughty

Artist

Thomas Doughty

American, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 1793–1856 New York