[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 4]
[House]
[Pages 5831-5833]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                  THE HUDSON RIVER SCHOOL OF PAINTING

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Joyce). Under the Speaker's announced 
policy of January 3, 2013, the Chair recognizes the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. Engel) for 30 minutes.
  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, since my election to the United States House 
of Representatives in 1988, I have been immensely proud to be a part of 
New York's congressional delegation.
  My colleagues from New York and I--both Democratic and Republican--
have united many times to fight for causes that are critical for our 
State. In the wake of terrible tragedies, like September 11, 2001, and, 
most recently, Hurricane Sandy, we have come together to perform our 
most important duties as Members of Congress, which is our obligation 
to do what is best for the people of New York.
  It is important, though, that we don't solely band together in times 
of tragedy; rather we must also gather in celebration of the people and 
occasions that make our Empire State a great State. That is why I am 
delighted to rise today in recognition of the Hudson River School of 
painters, the first school of art indigenous to the United States.
  The Hudson River runs through my district and the districts of many 
of my colleagues, some of whom will be speaking here today as well; and 
we are very, very proud of that river and proud of what it represents.
  The Hudson River School of Art is comprised of a group of 19th 
century painters, including Thomas Cole, Frederic Edwin Church, Asher 
Brown Durand, Jasper Francis Cropsey, Sanford Robinson Gifford, Albert 
Bierstadt, John Frederick Kensett, George Inness, Worthington 
Whittredge, and Thomas Moran.
  Today, these artists' paintings can be found in the United States 
Capitol, the National Gallery of Art, and the State Department, as well 
as the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, the Art Institute 
of Chicago, and the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston.
  Next to me are portraits of two of the Hudson River School's most 
celebrated painters, Jasper Francis Cropsey and Thomas Cole, the father 
of the Hudson River School.
  Now, the artist who did these sculptures is Greg Wyatt, my friend who 
is with us today, whose primary medium of artistic expression is cast 
bronze, and I would like for everybody to see these because they are 
truly magnificent and represent the greatness of our State and the 
greatness of the Hudson River.
  On the third easel--right here--is Cropsey's 1860 masterpiece 
``Autumn on the Hudson.'' It is truly beautiful, just as this portrait 
shows.
  As its name suggests, some of the Hudson River School's most notable 
works portray the majesty of New York's Hudson River Valley. However, 
the Hudson River painters capture the grandeur of a variety of New 
York's national treasures, and, again, I am proud to represent part of 
the Hudson Valley.
  From the Hudson Valley's lushness in Durand's ``The Beeches,'' to the 
majesty of the Catskills in Gifford's ``A Gorge in the Mountains,'' to 
the tranquility of the ocean in Kensett's ``Eaton's Neck, Long 
Island,'' the Hudson River School brilliantly encapsulated New York's 
diverse, yet unparalleled beauty.
  I rise today not only to celebrate the Hudson River School's 
contributions to America's artistic canon, but also to the environment 
they so beautifully immortalize.
  Hudson River School paintings helped Americans across the Nation 
understand the natural magnificence found across distant corners of the 
U.S. This understanding, in turn, helped

[[Page 5832]]

nurture the idea that such magnificence ought to be preserved for 
future generations.
  This idea culminated in 1916 with the creation of the National Park 
System and persisted into the 1960s when an environmentalist used 
Hudson River School paintings to demonstrate the need for legislation, 
such as the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act, to protect America's 
stunning resources.
  How glad we are that this Congress passed those laws. It follows then 
that the Hudson River School illustrates not only what art can do for 
the individual spirit, but also for the health of the Nation.
  Mr. Speaker, it is my hope that the residents of New York and the 
United States might gain an appreciation for the Hudson River School 
and its tremendous impact on our Nation and its culture. To help show 
our appreciation, I have introduced House Resolution 480, honoring the 
Hudson River School painters for their contributions to the United 
States.
  As a New Yorker, I am truly grateful to these artists for 
immortalizing the pristine beauty of New York's past. In the 
forthcoming speeches, my colleagues from New York will highlight their 
own appreciation for the Hudson River School and its invaluable 
contributions to our Nation.
  I want to also add, Mr. Speaker, that we have a number of people who 
have journeyed here from New York to celebrate these contributions and 
witness this Special Order.
  Among those is our distinguished former colleague, the gentleman from 
New York, Congressman Maurice Hinchey, my good friend. I welcome 
Maurice, his wife, and his daughter back to Washington and all the 
people here today, including Greg Wyatt, Barnabas McHenry, and so many 
other wonderful people.
  I now yield to my colleague from New York (Mr. Tonko).
  Mr. TONKO. Mr. Speaker, I rise this evening in recognition of the 
accomplishments of the painters that are so prominent that are part of 
the Hudson River School of painting, and I do want to thank our 
colleague, Representative Engel, the gentleman from New York, for 
hosting this Special Order on the House floor to honor the 19th century 
Hudson River School of painting.
  There are so many who cherish this institution, including, as was 
just mentioned, our former colleague, Representative Maurice Hinchey, 
who I see seated in the gallery, along with his family.
  Certainly, he represented the Hudson River Valley region of New York 
in such fine fashion and with a great appreciation for the arts and for 
cultural education.
  The school is also cherished by individuals like Barnabas McHenry 
who, as chair of the Palisades Interstate Park Commission, understands 
the value of this great school; and Greg Wyatt who, as you have seen, 
is a sculptor and has produced great work as director of the Academy of 
Art, also at Newington-Cropsey Foundation, and at Hastings-on-Hudson; 
and so many who believe in the message that is sent forth by this great 
institution.
  The Hudson River School of painting was the first uniquely American 
style of painting. The school's style of painting was popularized in 
the 1820s and lasted for much of the 19th century. You already heard 
many of the prominent painters listed by Representative Engel in his 
comments. Today, we are here to honor their contribution to our region, 
to our State of New York, and to this Nation.
  The Hudson River School of painting was founded in upstate New York 
in the Hudson River Valley and the nearby Catskill Mountains. The 
Hudson River School's landscapes capture the natural and rural beauty 
of my home State of New York on canvas, including the majestic and 
mighty waters of that great region.
  The Hudson River Valley has always had a special importance for our 
Nation. It was the pathway for early settlers to begin the westward 
movement that expanded our Nation's borders. To this day, we celebrate 
the Hudson River School of painting across the country and continue to 
do so in areas like Albany, New York, the capital region of New York.
  At the Albany Institute of History and Art, one of the oldest museums 
in the country, many of the works from the Hudson River School artists 
are on display. Last week, I had the privilege of visiting the 
institute of history and art and made certain that I stopped by to view 
the several paintings that are on display by these magnificent artists.
  One of the paintings that caught my eye and is near and dear to many 
is that of Jasper Cropsey's ``Dawn of Morning, Lake George,'' which is 
pictured here beside me and captures the untouched beauty of Lake 
George.
  Although the painting illuminates a quieter and distant time, many of 
the residents of the capital region continue to visit and enjoy the 
beauty of Lake George today.
  Lake George is the largest lake in the Adirondacks and is within the 
Adirondacks State Park Preserve in upstate New York. The Adirondacks 
Preserve was established in 1892 by the State of New York and covers 
more than 6 million acres of protected areas.
  Cropsey's ``Dawn of Morning, Lake George'' captures the serenity that 
he imagined once existed and reminds us of the spectacular sight of 
nature, including our trees, the mountains, and the waters.
  In addition to capturing the beauty of New York, over time, the 
Hudson River School artists began traveling more widely, eventually 
painting scenes throughout New England, the American West, Western 
Europe, north Africa, the Middle East, and South America.
  The paintings of the American West were particularly popular. These 
realistic scenes of what was then, essentially, foreign land to most of 
the American people sparked the imagination and echoed the voices of 
the growing grassroots conservation movement, illustrating the need to 
preserve the wonders of our natural American landscape.
  In fact, many landscapes of the Hudson River School were used to 
support the creation of the first national parks. Inspired in part by 
these paintings, the National Park System has been a significant part 
of our environmental inheritance, protecting some of America's most 
iconic and majestic places. I have always believed that our national 
parks embody the history and heritage that make America unique.
  Personally, I grew up in Amsterdam, New York, in the heart of the 
scenic Mohawk Valley of New York. My upbringing instilled in me a 
strong concern for the health of our environment and an appreciation 
for the delicacy of natural ecosystems and our native wildlife.
  As someone who believes that we must leave our children and 
grandchildren with a rich and enduring environmental inheritance, I am 
especially grateful for the role that the Hudson River School of 
painting served and will continue to serve in inspiring our Nation to 
preserve our land and to preserve our water.
  For many generations to come, the American people will have the 
opportunity to view these breathtaking paintings and will be reminded 
why we must continue to preserve America's richness of natural beauty.
  Mr. Speaker, I will conclude my remarks by urging our colleagues and 
the public to recognize the Hudson River School of painting and the 
legacy forged by its artists. While the school has many ties to my home 
State and our capital region of New York, we can all appreciate the 
contributions made to this mighty Nation.
  I would also like to thank our colleague, the gentleman from New York 
(Mr. Engel), for his admirable work to promote and honor the Hudson 
River School of painting. Again, I thank him for this opportunity to 
proclaim the greatness of this great school of artists.
  With that, Mr. Speaker, I now yield to our next speaker, the 
Representative from New York (Mr. Sean Patrick Maloney).
  Mr. SEAN PATRICK MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, President Franklin 
Delano Roosevelt once said:
  All my life, I have dreamed of going back to my home on the Hudson 
River. It was the center of the world.

[[Page 5833]]

  He was referring to his habit of, late at night, of remembering being 
a child, before he was stricken with polo, before he was President, 
before he was burdened with the awesome responsibilities of his office 
during a time of war.

                              {time}  2000

  Being a child in the Hudson River meant sledding down a hill behind 
Hyde Park and feeling totally free. And he remembered that, as a 
President, to forget the burdens of his office and to remember the 
miracle and dream of his youth. Those of us who are blessed to 
represent the Hudson Valley understand that the Hudson Valley writes 
its beauty on our personalities and on our very souls. It inscribes us 
with its timeless beauty. And as it flows on endlessly by, we are 
reminded of the fleeting nature of our service and of our very lives.
  A group of artists, including Thomas Cole, Asher Brown Durand, Jasper 
Francis Cropsey, and Frederic Edwin Church, somehow by hiking, 
sketching, and experiencing the Hudson River Valley found a way to 
translate what it means to those of us who live, work, and raise our 
families there into these permanent, lasting images. And our own 
modern-day genius, Greg Wyatt, has found a way to capture them. So we 
pause here tonight to honor that.
  Drawing inspiration from our natural environment, these artists began 
painting scenes and now sculpting images. From across New York and our 
country, Asher Brown Durand, one of the original founders of the 
school, has one of the most beautiful pieces anyone will ever create of 
Beacon, New York. It is called ``Beacon Hills on the Hudson River.'' It 
was painted across the river in Newburgh in 1852. Today, my office in 
Newburgh looks out at that same image, at that same beauty.
  Frederic Church was one of the first to capture Niagara Falls back in 
1857. Within 2 weeks of its debut, his piece had lured 100,000 visitors 
to pay 25 cents apiece to view it.
  Not only did the Hudson River School influence the modern-day 
environmental conservation movement, but these paintings actually 
inspired the establishment of our National Park System in the early 
part of the 20th century, which was, of course, formed by President 
Teddy Roosevelt. Teddy Roosevelt couldn't have spoken more true words 
when he said:

       There are no words that can tell the hidden spirit of the 
     wilderness, that can reveal its mystery, its melancholy, and 
     its charm.

  But, again, our painters from the Hudson Valley found that hidden 
spirit and that charm that Franklin and Teddy Roosevelt both 
remembered.
  Dating back 100 years, my neighbors in the Hudson Valley take great 
pride in our natural resources and protecting and conserving this 
unique home for us and for our children and for generations to come.
  I want to take just a minute to recognize my predecessor and our 
former colleague, Congressman Maurice Hinchey, and his family who have 
joined us here tonight. When you follow Maurice Hinchey in the 
Congress, you have some very big shoes to fill. And I have heard a lot 
about Congressman Hinchey and his service, and I always enjoy the 
stories because it sets for me an example of what I want to do in this 
body.
  After Congressman Hinchey sacrificed for his country as a Navy 
sailor, as my own father did, he became a respected State lawmaker, and 
he proudly served here for two decades. My neighbors in the Hudson 
Valley know that he worked tirelessly for them, for economic justice 
and equal opportunity, because he believed that this government should 
work for everyone, including someone like him who grew up in a working 
class family and spent some time working in a factory, because our 
country, as Congressman Hinchey understood, is better off when 
leadership like his supports ordinary Americans, people like him who 
served in our military, our veterans, our working and middle class 
families who struggle to put food on the table and pay the bills but 
who can also appreciate the beauty of the environment and the timeless 
wonder of places like the Hudson Valley.
  Congressman Hinchey played a critical role in the modern 
environmental movement even before it was widely recognized as 
important. Back in 1996 when I was working for President Clinton, 
Congressman Hinchey was authoring legislation that the President signed 
into law that established the Hudson Valley National Heritage Area. 
Because of Mr. Hinchey's leadership, the Hudson Valley National 
Heritage Area currently links over 100 individual sites, from Saratoga 
to Westchester, while showcasing the Hudson Valley's unique role in 
American history and development.
  I want to commend Barnabas McHenry who is with us here today who has 
dedicated so much of his life to that same mission. Because of their 
leadership, my children and my grandchildren will see and be able to 
treasure the Hudson Valley's unique and incredible scenic, historic, 
agricultural, and natural wonders.
  Congressman Hinchey always made sure that we remember the rich 
contributions of the Hudson River School of painters. Congressman 
Hinchey knows, like many of us do, that there is no place in the 
country that compares to the Hudson Valley, and those of us lucky 
enough to live there are not surprised that it was the birthplace of 
America's first and greatest school of art.
  In closing, let me just say that not long ago, a friend of mine came 
over to my home, which is across from West Point and Cold Spring, and 
actually looks down the Hudson River towards Garrison and south towards 
the Bear Mountain Bridge. I walked him up to the property, and the sun 
was going down. A short while later after he left, he sent a note and 
he said:

       Sean, I once saw a sunset like that in a Frederic Church 
     painting, and I thought he made it up. But when I saw it with 
     my own eyes at your house, I understood for the first time 
     what inspired these great geniuses to try to capture the 
     wonder and beauty that is the Hudson River Valley for all 
     time.

  We honor their success in doing so tonight, and we honor those who 
continue that legacy who join us here tonight. Thank you on behalf of a 
grateful Hudson Valley and a grateful Nation.
  I yield back the balance of my time, Mr. Speaker.


                Announcement by the Speaker Pro Tempore

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair would remind Members to refrain 
from referring to occupants in the gallery.
  The Chair will remind all persons in the gallery that they are here 
as guests of the House and that any manifestation of approval or 
disapproval of the proceedings is in violation of the rules of the 
House.

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