The Heckscher Museum of Art’s collection spans 500 years with particular emphasis on art of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. American landscape painting and work by Long Island artists, past and present, are particular strengths, as is American and European modernism.
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Niagara
Although born in Denmark, Ferdinand Richardt achieved his greatest acclaim for his American scenes, particularly his numerous views of Niagara Falls, executed while visiting the U.S. between 1855 and 1863. Considered America's greatest natural wonder, Niagara was so popular a tourist destination by the mid-19th century, when Richardt visited, that it had begun to show signs of physical deterioration. Indeed in 1852 portions of rock had fallen into the river beneath Prospect Point, the foreground area in Richardt's painting. His view is topographical: Platt Babbitt's popular photography pavilion is seen in the middle-ground with the American Falls behind; Goat Island, the Terrapin Tower and Horseshoe Falls are seen in the background; and the Pavilion Hotel is at the far right. By emphasizing anecdotal detail, Richardt depicts the iconic site as genre painting. His tourists admire the view from safely behind a railing, and the viewer's high vantage point further diminishes the threatening power of the falls.