Asher Brown Durand (American, 1796-1886). The Narrows, Lake George, 1870. Oil on canvas. 15 x 24 inches (38.1 x 61.0 cm)...

Description

Asher Brown Durand (American, 1796-1886)
The Narrows, Lake George, 1870
Oil on canvas
15 x 24 inches (38.1 x 61.0 cm)
Signed and dated lower right: A.D. Durand / 1870

PROVENANCE:
A New York Estate;
Private collection, Pound Ridge, New York, acquired from the above.

A leading figure of the Hudson River School, Asher B. Durand found inspiration in the scenery of Lake George, a region long celebrated for its crystal-clear waters, wooded slopes, and dramatic mountain vistas. Like his contemporaries Thomas Cole, John Frederick Kensett, and Martin Johnson Heade, Durand was drawn to Lake George not only for its natural beauty but also for its capacity to symbolize the purity and promise of a newly expanding America.

Durand's depiction of The Narrows, a slender, island-dotted middle section of Lake George known for its dramatic beauty and panoramic vistas, captures the quiet grandeur of the region, emphasizing clarity of form, harmonious composition, and a golden serenity that became his hallmark. American critics of the era recognized Durand's unique contribution to the Hudson River School: in 1847, a critic for the New York Evening Post compared Cole and Durand, writing, "It is now generally conceded, we believe, that Cole and Durand are the two most prominent landscape painters in this country. They are indeed artists of superior ability and will undoubtedly hereafter be looked upon as the founders of two American schools. Each one is distinguished for peculiar excellencies...Durand paints the better study from nature so far as individuality is concerned, but Cole produces with greater truth the uncommon effects observable in nature...Cole has a passion for the wild and tempestuous; Durand is a lover of the cultivated country when glowing in mellow sunlight" (as quoted in L.S. Ferber, Kindred Spirits: Asher B. Durand and the American Landscape, exhibition catalogue, New York, 2007, p. 161).

In contrast to Cole's dramatic wilderness scenes, Durand's view of Lake George is intimate and reflective, celebrating not the sublime, but the pastoral and enduring. His commitment to painting directly from nature lends the work both immediacy and emotional clarity. The Narrows, Lake George stands as a lasting tribute to one of the Hudson River School's most beloved landscapes-and to Durand's central role in shaping a distinctly American aesthetic.




*Heritage Auctions strives to provide as much information as possible but encourages in-person inspection by bidders. Statements regarding the condition of objects are only for general guidance and should not be relied upon as complete statements of fact, and do not constitute a representation, warranty or assumption of liability by Heritage. Some condition issues may not be noted in the condition report but are apparent in the provided photos which are considered part of the condition report. Please note that we do not de-frame lots estimated at $1,000 or less and may not be able to provide additional details for lots valued under $500. Heritage does not guarantee the condition of frames and shall not be liable for any damage/scratches to frames, glass/acrylic coverings, original boxes, display accessories, or art that has slipped in frames. All lots are sold "AS IS" under the Terms & Conditions of Auction.