STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Back in the 1800s, when ambitious New York-based painters went looking for dramatic landscapes, they found them a ferry-ride away, on Staten Island.
At the time, the Island’s high, central hills were still wooded and sparsely settled. Much of the level land was green farmland. The surrounding waters were clean and filled with picturesque sailing vessels. The place was a landscape painter’s dream come true.
The era will be documented for the first time in "Staten Island Scenery: 1679-1900,” a new book by Barnett Shepherd, the New Brighton-based historian who is director emeritus of Historic Richmond Town and an advisor to the Staten Island Museum.
The book, published jointly by Richmond Town and the museum, will be released later in the year. Both collections preserve paintings of Island scenes from the 19th Century
“At the time, our Island was regarded as a glorious representation of all of America,” Shepherd said. “There were scenic views of the the harbor, acres of woods, grassy meadows, marshy wetlands and, the hills, which towered over the terrain other boroughs. These were perfect scenes for artists to recreate.”
Landscape paintings became popular with the public. Eventually painters left the city and sailed up the Hudson River looking for new views. Even after they headed west, artists who specialized in dramatic, unpopulated American landscapes became known as Hudson River School painters.
"Staten Island Scenery: 1679-1900" will be accompanied by documentary DVD, narrated by Shepherd and directed by award-winning director Ed Wiseman, who is also executive director of Historic Richmond Town.