Kingston Point, Hudson River is a fine example of the late, Luminist style of Francis A. Silva. The spiritual connection with the natural setting that all 19th-century American artists established was expressed by the Luminist painters through effects of light and atmosphere rather than through the dramatic vegetation and geological formations that were depicted by some of their contemporaries.

Here Silva depicts one of the beaches on the Hudson river to the north of New York. The emphasis is on the horizontal and the sky with its subtle tonal gradations is a particularly important element. Also notable are the clarity and harmony of the composition with the sailing boat as the central axis, offset by the rocks on the beach that close the composition on the right. Time seems to stand still and the water, rocks, clouds and sailing craft dotted on the calm water are all bathed in a warm light.

CM

Between 1871 and 1876 Francis Silva, a prominent member of the American Luminist movement, obsessively painted the banks of the mythical Hudson River from different perspectives and in a variety of atmospheric and light conditions. Executed shortly after his debut in the annual exhibition of the National Academy of Design in 1869, Kingston Point, Hudson River is one of these views in which Silva displays his skill at portraying the effects of light on the calm waters at the wide point in the river.

The whole scene, executed with tight, polished and precise brushstrokes, is filled with a sparkling, pink-hued light that is so characteristic of Luminism, the prevailing style of the American landscape school between 1860 and 1880. The flat, open and horizontal composition harmoniously offsets the verticality of the sailing boat in the centre of the river. The very low horizon light allows the artist to increase the expanse of sky which, like the background mountains, is enveloped in a very diffuse fog. The white of the boat’s sail and its reflection in the calm waters also stands out amid the afternoon light that tinges the waters and clouds.

Paloma Alarcó
19th Century19th Century. North American Painting. LuminismPaintingOilcanvas
Download image Print page

Products and publications

Max Beckmann, figuras del exílio. Exhibition catalogue. Hardcover. Spanish.

Max Beckmann, figuras del exílio. Exhibition catalogue. Hardcover. Spanish.

38.00 € 9.50 €

"Masterworks from Budapest" exhibition catalogue (Spanish, Paperback)

"Masterworks from Budapest" exhibition catalogue (Spanish, Paperback)

34.00 € 15.50 €

Watch Swatch+Thyssen van der Ast Gracious Bouquet

Watch Swatch+Thyssen van der Ast Gracious Bouquet

80.01 €

Alex Katz (exhibition catalog. Spanish with texts in English)

Alex Katz (exhibition catalog. Spanish with texts in English)

32.00 € 30.40 €

Visit online shop

More from the collection

Kingston Point, Hudson River. Kingston Point, río Hudson, c. 1873
Kingston Point, Hudson River
Francis A. Silva

©

Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza, Madrid

Terms of Use

The exploitation rights of the images correspond to the Fundación Coleccion Thyssen-Bornemisza, F.S.P. The Fundación authorizes the downloading of high-resolution images from its website for private use, use for educational and research purposes, and other non-commercial uses.

Use for educational and research purposes is understood as the non-commercial or advertising use of images in presentations, conferences, school or university work, in classes at regulated education institutions, as well as in academic publications, with a circulation of less than 1,000 copies, provided that it is non-profit.

Non-commercial use is understood as the use of the images in a context where no profit, monetary or commercial, is generated, directly or indirectly.

Any use other than those indicated above will require the prior written authorization of the Fundación Any request for educational and research use or for non-commercial use (including academic publications), should be directed by email to the Museum Photo Library through the email address archivo.fotografico@museothyssen.org. This department manages the worldwide distribution of the images of the works of the Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza and the management of their reproduction rights for those uses.

The user agrees to use the image of the website solely and exclusively for the purposes described above and in accordance with the following terms of use:

Terms of use

  • If the image is used for reproduction, the work must be reproduced in its entirety. The image may not be manipulated, deformed, modified, or altered in any way. In particular, no superposition (of images or texts) on the reproduction is allowed.
  • The reproduction of a detail or part of the work may only be made with the prior written authorization of the Fundación. In this case, the credit line must include the following mention: “detail”.
  • Any total or partial reproduction of the images authorized by the Fundación must be accompanied by the following mention: Author's name. Title, Date © Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza, Madrid.
  • The user will send to the Museum Photo Library of the Fundación one (1) free copy of the edition, publication or reproduction to the following address: Archivo Fotográfico, Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza, Paseo del Prado, 8 28014 Madrid, Spain.
Download image