Landscape with Shepherd

A descendant of African-American slaves, Duncanson was born in upstate New York into a family of carpenters and housepainters. As an artist he was self-taught and established a successful career in the Midwest, especially in Cincinnati, where he painted portraits and, increasingly, landscapes that exhibit the strong influence of Thomas Cole. Duncanson painted many pictures of actual scenes, but "Landscape with Shepherd" typifies the generic pastoral prospect that he frequently preferred. It compares closely with such Cole paintings as "View on the Catskill, Early Autumn" (95.13.3), but, unlike Cole’s picture, cannot be linked with any specific locale. (Source: The Metropolitan Museum of Art)

Notes from the contributor:
Purchase, Gift of Hanson K. Corning, by exchange, 1975