JASPER FRANCIS CROPSEY (AMERICAN, 1823-1900)
View of Sicily
signed and dated 'J.F.C 1859' (lower right)
oil on board
23 x 13 cm. (9 1/16 x 5 1/4 in.)

Provenance
Private Collection UK


Jasper Francis Cropsey was born in Staten Island, New York into a large family who lived on his father’s farm in Rossville. Cropsey displayed a keen eye for drawing from a very young age; at fourteen he was awarded a diploma at Mechanics Institute Fair of the City of New York for model house building and became known for his skill locally. Following this, he trained as an architect apprentice and developed his skills in drawing. After colleagues encouraged his talent, Cropsey first exhibited his work at the National Academy of Design in 1843. His early paintings hung alongside those of Asher B. Durand, Cole, and other early Hudson River School artists. In 1844, he was elected as the youngest ever associated member of the institution and was awarded full membership in 1851. Cropsey developed his artistic career producing landscape studies and paintings, such as the present example. The artist would often travel to areas of great natural beauty such as Greenwood Lake in New Jersey, Switzerland, the British countryside and the Italian coast, such as the Sicilian view captured in the present example which Cropsey is known to have painted a number of times.

In the 1850s, Cropsey’s career was blossoming, and he was regarded as one of the leading members of the Hudson River School. After settling in London with his wife for several years, Cropsey returned to America in 1863 where he eventually settled in his home and studio at Hastings-on-Hudson, New York, where he painted for fifteen years. The property he lived, named Ever Rest, now exists as a museum maintained by the Newington-Cropsey Foundation.

We are grateful to the Newington-Cropsey Foundation for their assistance in the authentication of this work.