Moonrise 1889

Frederic Edwin Church's *Moonrise* (1889) showcases the artist's mastery of luminous landscapes. The painting depicts a serene sunset scene, with a large, glowing moon rising over a distant, mountainous horizon. In the foreground, the remnants of an ancient Roman temple stand tall against the vibrant sky. The soft, muted colors and meticulous detail create a sense of grandeur and tranquility, inviting the viewer to contemplate the passage of time and the enduring power of nature. This romantic landscape painting, now in the collection of the Santa Barbara Museum of Art (SBMA), highlights the artist's interest in the sublime, a key theme of the Hudson River School of painting.