IV 

111TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 762 

Honoring the Hudson River School painters for their contributions to the 

United States. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

SEPTEMBER 22, 2009 

Mr. HINCHEY (for himself, Mr. SERRANO, Mr. MASSA, Ms. SLAUGHTER, Mr. 

HALL of New York, Mr. ENGEL, Mr. MURPHY of New York, and Mr. 

TONKO) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 

Committee on Oversight and Government Reform 

RESOLUTION 

Honoring the Hudson River School painters for their 

contributions to the United States. 

Whereas the Hudson River School was a mid-19th century 

American art movement led by a group of landscape 

painters, whose aesthetic vision was influenced by the romanticism movement; 

Whereas the Hudson River School is considered the first 

school of American art; 

Whereas the major Hudson River School painters included 

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; 


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Whereas the Hudson River School paintings captured the 

striking landscape and sweeping natural beauty of the 

Hudson River Valley and the surrounding New York 

areas, including the Catskill, the Adirondack, and the 

White Mountains; 

Whereas Hudson River School paintings served a vital role in 

cultivating American identity in the mid-19th century 

and creating a sense of awe of the American landscape 

that endures to this day; 

Whereas the Hudson River School painters influenced the environmental conservation movement and the establishment of the National Park System under President Theodore Roosevelt; 

Whereas the Hudson River School’s portrayal of the Hudson 

River Valley is a major source of tourism in the region; 

Whereas 2009 marks the 400th anniversary of the voyages 

of discovery made by Henry Hudson and Samuel de 

Champlain, recognizing the important role that the Hudson River and the Hudson Valley played in the development and growth of the United States; 

Whereas the Hudson River School painters depicted the Hudson River Valley during the opening of the Erie Canal, 

which linked the Hudson River with the Great Lakes and 

created a main trade route from New York that fostered 

the city’s central place in the American economy; 

Whereas the Hudson River School painters celebrated the 

ideals of American democracy, individuality, and 

progress; 

Whereas the Hudson River School painters illustrated themes 

such as nature, conservation, civility, unity, education, 

family, chivalry, and development; 


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Whereas the Hudson River School painters expressed the 

sense that every generation of Americans should seek to 

preserve the naturalness of the continent; and 

Whereas the Hudson River School painters accentuated the 

cardinal values of the 19th century, which can assist contemporary Americans in the rebirth of American culture: 

Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives recog2 nizes and honors the Hudson River School painters for 

3 their contributions to the United States. 

Æ 


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