International Exchange

John Ruskin, Sunset over the Mountains, c. 1845, watercolor and gouache with graphite on beige wove paper. The Clark, gift of the Manton Art Foundation in memory of Sir Edwin and Lady Manton, 2007.20.43

Throughout the nineteenth century, American artists often looked to French and British academic painters and critics for inspiration. Many sought rigorous training abroad, especially in Paris, where studios and academies provided critical technical instruction. Meanwhile, the written work of British critics such as John Ruskin shaped ideas about the role of art in society.

Traveling artists often carried easy-to-transport sketchbooks and watercolor materials, producing drawings that could be brought back to their studios at home. Upon their return, American artists adapted their European lessons to American subjects and settings, forging new approaches that helped define the direction of American art.