Familiar Terrain:
Landscapes from the Permanent Collection

June 14 - September 2, 2005
Wilbur Room

The splendors of nature have inspired Western artists since antiquity. It was not until the 16th century, however, that landscape gained acceptance as an independent genre, rather than merely an ancillary element in a larger composition. Since then, artists have focused their gazes on natural vistas, resulting in works that range from bucolic arcadias promising pleasure or solace to spartan locales laden with darker undertones. For many artists, the landscape offered an ideal field that could be freely infused with spiritual, philosophical, political, historical, or personal meanings.

The Fleming Museum's holdings include a rich and diverse collection of landscapes, including notable works by such artists as Charles François Daubigny, Giovanni Battista Piranesi, Eliot Porter, and Claire Van Vliet. Featuring prints, drawings, watercolors, and photographs, Familiar Terrain offers a panoramic perspective of Western landscape traditions.