Nicolas Poussin and Nature

Nicolas Poussin was one of the first painters to legitimize landscape painting as a classical genre and was also one of the first to paint directly from nature. In the May 2008 issue of American Artist, John Parks gives us a look at the life, inspiration, and output of this influential artist, who is also the subject of the “Poussin and Nature: Arcadian Visions” exhibition currently on view at The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

To read the full version of this article and other articles on exhibitions, subscribe to American Artist today!

EXHIBITION: J.M.W. Turner

This retrospective features the life work of the great English landscape painter J.M.W. Turner and showcases his incredible ability to capture luminous light and atmosphere.

EXHIBITION: Kindred Spirits: Asher B. Durand and the American Landscape

This exhibition of more than 50 landscape paintings and engravings from Hudson River School artist Asher B. Durand surveys the artist's long career as well as his lasting contribution to the plein air-painting tradition.

The History of the Plein Air Movement

Starting in Rome in the 17th century and eventually making its way around the world, the plein air movement began as a call for artists to reconnect with nature and develop an appreciation for the astounding beauty found therein. More than four centuries later, many of the values and beliefs that birthed the plein air movement are still alive among practitioners of the genre today.