George Herbert McCord

Sketching Among the Irises by George Herbert McCord (American, 1848-1909)

19th Century

Known for atmospheric marine and landscape paintings in oil, pastel, and watercolor and for black and white drawings, George McCord was born in New York City and remained primarily a resident in Brooklyn although he traveled widely and from 1883 also had a studio in Morristown, New Jersey. He was part of the second generation of Hudson River School painters. He studied at the Hudson River Institute, the Claverack Academy in Claverack, New York and with Samuel Morse and James Fairman. By 1870, he was exhibiting at the National Academy of Design. He made frequent sketching trips in New England, Canada, Florida, and the Upper Mississippi and participated in one of the exclusive excursions sponsored by the Santa Fe Railroad to paint the Grand Canyon. He was also part of a special Erie Canal painting trip, and was commissioned by Andrew Carnegie to paint the scenery around his castle in Cluny, Scotland. He lived for three years in Venice and later in Paris. In 1880, he was elected an Associate of the National Academy and had many exhibitions throughout the country.