Aurora 1863

James M. Hart made this pencil drawing titled "Aurora," the Roman name for the goddess of dawn, at an unknown date. The Hudson River School of painting, of which Hart was a member, had a huge influence on the cultural perception of the American landscape. In the 19th century, paintings of landscapes were more than just pretty pictures; they were statements about American identity and the relationship between humanity and nature. The detailed rendering of the American landscape as sublime and unspoiled was a powerful statement of cultural and political intent that spoke to the notion of "manifest destiny." Art historians look at how artists like Hart, through the institutional structures of art academies and exhibitions, shaped ideas about nature in the US. Close inspection of the sketches and preparatory drawings of artists, held in museum collections, can allow us to get a better handle on this.