American Art

Paintings and sculptures in the American collection date from roughly 1790 to the 1940s, and reflect a continued interest in naturalism and the traditions of Europe. The earliest examples highlight the keen interest in portraiture by our nation's founders. Landscapes range from the detailed observations of nature by members of the Hudson River School to the loose brushwork practiced by the followers of Impressionism, while cityscapes capture the changing face of American urban life.

Artists in this area of the collection include John Singleton Copley, Fitz Henry Lane, George Inness, Eastman Johnson, William Merritt Chase and Robert Henri.

Left: Silver Vase, Thomas Hart Benton, 1945. Oil and tempera on canvas. Collection of Phoenix Art Museum, Gift of Blanche K. Lipari. Center: Winter Landscape, Ernest Lawson, c. 1907. Oil on canvas. Collection of Phoenix Art Museum, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Orme Lewis in memory of Mr. Bruce Barton, Jr. Right: George Washington, Gilbert Stuart, 1796 or later. Oil on canvas. Collection of Phoenix Art Museum, Gift of Mr. Gilbert A. Harrison.