Albert Bierstadt (1830-1902) is best known for his huge, panoramic landscapes of the unsettled west.  He was born in Germany, and was two years old when his family emigrated to America and settled in New Bedford, Massachusetts. 

Beginning in 1859, he made three trips west, each time making oil sketches on paper. When he returned to his New York studio, he used these sketches and oil studies to paint huge (some 6 feet by 10 feet) detailed panoramic views of Western scenery. His paintings emphasized the spectacular landscapes, sometimes exaggerating what he had seen and changing a few details to make the scene more interesting.

At the height of his career, he lived in a mansion on the Hudson; but his work fell out of favor and he died in New York City flat broke.  A fuller biographical sketch of Bierstadt is available.  Also of interest may be a view from two stereoscope cards that shows Bierstadt painting at an Indian camp.

I have admired the work of Albert Bierstadt for several years, but haven't sufficient space in my home to display more than a few prints. So, I created this section of my website as a tribute to his work. I've collected images from books and across the internet; one notable resource has been the Smithsonian Institution Research Information System. 

Though there are amazingly over 875 paintings displayed on these "walls" (and an assortment of black and white scans in the online "storage room"), this gallery is not intended to be a complete nor definitive collection of his works.  Many of his paintings and sketches were lost when his studio and home burned. 

You can purchase prints of his works at many places, though many paintings are available only in private collections or in museums. AllPosters.com has over 200 Albert Bierstadt prints available for sale. Likewise, Art.com has about 200 Albert Bierstadt prints for sale.  Both sites can frame the print for you with your choice of molding and matts; Art.com can transfer it to artist canvas as well.