Description:
Nelson Augustus Moore (1824-1902) was born in Kensington, Connecticut, and studied art in New York City before opening a photography studio in Hartford with his brother Roswell about 1854. While most contemporary photographers concentrated on portraits, N.A. & R.A. Moore also took “on the spot” photographs that documented life and events during the 1850s and 1860s - including the Charter Oak in Hartford in 1855 and 1856, a balloon accension in Bushnell Park in 1862, and the Colt Fire Arms Manufactory fire in 1864. Unlike some artists, who abandoned painting for photography, Moore continued to paint idyllic landscapes of Connecticut, especially Hartford and his native Kensington, throughout his life. The collections of the Connecticut Historical Society include photographs, sketches, and paintings as well as letters, diaries, and artifacts such as Nelson’s easel and the umbrella that he used while sketching. This large-sized framed painting by Nelson Augustus Moore depicts a view of the bridge across the Connecticut River at Springfield. The painting's foreground shows the river banks in West Springfield with a birch tree on the left hand side, cows in a pasture, farm fields, orchard trees, and a small two-story house on the edge of the water on the right side, the calm Connecticut river with a bridge in the distance, and in the background is the city of Springfield - with several buildings and church spires. The scene depicts an early fall day with foliage and dramatic blue and cloudy skies. An old typed label that accompanied the painting reads, "Connecticut River & Springfield/ by Nelson A.Moore/ Southington, Conn. in 1869-70/ View looking south from the east end of Meeting House Hill in Riverdale, West Springfield. In the foreground is the old Boatman's Tavern house occupied by James Bagg and later by his son James N. Bagg and torn down in 1872. The bridge is the old covered railroad bridge, erected in 1855." The painting is signed "NA Moore, 1870" in the lower left hand corner. The elaborate carved and gilt wooden frame with applied composition ornament has an outer border of beaded (egg and dart molding), a border of bell flowers, a cove molding with a pebbled gilt surface and large acanthus leaves at the corner, the inner moldings are a spiral and a small ornamented aesthetic movement border. This painting may be the same one show at the National Academy of Design and listed as his only entry for 1870, "On the Banks of the Connecticut."
Label Text:
This large-scale landscape by Nelson Augustus Moore (1824-1902) depicts a view of the bridge across the Connecticut River at Springfield and the artist’s close study of the American landscape. Moore captures an early fall day in the region and draws attention to the shifting tones of foliage and the dramatic cloudy skies. Likely drawing on the work of the Hudson River School to create this picturesque scene, the artist incorporates landmarks and natural elements, including a birch tree in the foreground, cows in the pasture, a local tavern house, and the distant city of Springfield with buildings and church spires. After studying art in New York City, Moore served as an art instructor in New Britain, and later opened a photography studio in Hartford, Connecticut, with his brother Roswell in 1854. As many artists shifted from painting to photography, Moore continued to paint idyllic landscapes of Connecticut, including Hartford and his native Kensington. With precise details and calm setting, the artist draws attention to the seasonal beauty of the Connecticut River valley.
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https://museums.fivecolleges.edu/detail.php?t=objects&type=ext&id_number=HD+2023.13 |
