The Ohio River near Wheeling, West Virginia 1859 - 1860

"The Ohio River near Wheeling, West Virginia" is a landscape painting by Lefevre James Cranstone, created between 1859 and 1860. The artwork, now housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, features a panoramic view of the Ohio River, showcasing the iconic steamboat "The Wheeling" navigating the waterway. Cranstone's painting captures the essence of 19th century America, where river travel was crucial for transportation and commerce. The artist meticulously renders the rolling hills and the vast expanse of the river, highlighting the tranquility of the scene. The steamboat in the distance, with its billowing smoke, provides a counterpoint to the stillness of the natural environment. This painting is a testament to the romanticism and realism associated with American landscape art of the period.