The Rocky Mountains by Albert Bierstadt (USA — 1863) — Questions and answers

Read the full story

What is the name of Albert Bierstadt's masterpiece mentioned on this page?

Choices

  1. The Rocky Mountains, Lander's Peak ✓
  2. Yosemite Valley
  3. The Grand Canyon
  4. Mount Rainier

Answer: The Rocky Mountains, Lander's Peak

From page 1

What kind of paintings mesmerized young Albert at the Düsseldorf Gallery?

Choices

  1. Hudson River School paintings ✓
  2. Portraits of people
  3. Still life paintings of fruit
  4. Industrial cityscapes

Answer: Hudson River School paintings

From page 2

What did Bierstadt do to capture the raw beauty of the American West during the Lander Expedition?

Choices

  1. He took many photographs with a camera.
  2. He meticulously sketched the peaks, valleys, and flora. ✓
  3. He wrote detailed descriptions in a journal.
  4. He painted small oil studies on the spot.

Answer: He meticulously sketched the peaks, valleys, and flora.

From page 3

What did Bierstadt's studio assistant, Rosalie, admire about his painting?

Choices

  1. The way he used bright, bold colors.
  2. The way he captured the light. ✓
  3. How quickly he painted his masterpieces.
  4. The very large size of his canvases.

Answer: The way he captured the light.

From page 4

What technique did Bierstadt use to emphasize the grandeur of the mountains and the vastness of the landscape?

Choices

  1. Dramatic chiaroscuro ✓
  2. Very bright pastel colors
  3. Tiny, delicate brushstrokes
  4. Abstract shapes

Answer: Dramatic chiaroscuro

From page 5

How did people react to Bierstadt's completed painting when it was first shown?

Choices

  1. They thought it was too small and boring.
  2. They praised his skill and the painting's grandeur. ✓
  3. They were confused by the subject of the painting.
  4. They thought the painting looked unfinished.

Answer: They praised his skill and the painting's grandeur.

From page 6

What did Bierstadt's painting become a symbol of for the nation?

Choices

  1. American cooking traditions
  2. The importance of living in big cities
  3. American ambition and the promise of the West ✓
  4. European art styles and techniques

Answer: American ambition and the promise of the West

From page 7

Why did Bierstadt's landscapes start to become less popular later in his career?

Choices

  1. People thought his paintings were too small.
  2. Artistic tastes changed, and critics called them overly sentimental. ✓
  3. He stopped painting landscapes altogether.
  4. He moved to a different country and stopped showing his art.

Answer: Artistic tastes changed, and critics called them overly sentimental.

From page 8

What happened to Bierstadt's work in the 20th century?

Choices

  1. It was completely forgotten and lost.
  2. It was rediscovered and appreciated by art historians again. ✓
  3. It was destroyed in a big fire.
  4. It was only shown in private homes, not museums.

Answer: It was rediscovered and appreciated by art historians again.

From page 9

What does Albert Bierstadt's 'The Rocky Mountains, Lander's Peak' continue to do today?

Choices

  1. Make people want to stay indoors.
  2. Evoke a sense of awe and wonder. ✓
  3. Show only tiny, unnoticeable details.
  4. Teach people how to cook.

Answer: Evoke a sense of awe and wonder.

From page 10