Albert Bierstadt
I have always liked this painting. Bierstadt was apparently quite the operator. / I’ve been in DC the past few days and had the chance to spend a few hours at the Smithsonian American Art Museum. It is the best museum in a city full of great museums. It shares the old patent office building with the National Portrait Gallery which in itself is pretty cool. While there I got the chance to see some of the people that Peter Carroll and I worked with on the Lunder Conservation Center project, and had a really nice visit. / Back to Massachusetts tomorrow and will mail out the next level of rewards for the suitcase backers.
Jon Crispin's Notebook 
I had a print of that painting hanging in my apartment for many years.
Love the shot – reminds me of John Berger’s Ways of Seeing and Andre Keryesz’s photos in On Reading and also one of my favorite movies – Vertigo by Hitchcock – when we see Madeline on the bench in the museum staring at a painting. Back in the summer of 1976 – the bicentennial – I did an internship in the National Portrait Gallery, so it brings back a lot of memories. Thanks so much Jon, for taking us with you on your travels.
Hey Pia, thanks. How was the film festival?
Jace, If you admire Bierstadt, seek out the works of Thomas Moran. Similar genre and equally, grandly stunning.
This picture captures the truth of seeing a painting in real life. The small prints don’t tell you that the real painting in huge, and that it glows. I am always taken by the glow of the paintings of the great ones. Thank you for reminding me I need to go back to the museums.