Romanticism Martin Heade And The Hudson River School

Martin Heade and Alexis Rockman have both created works that display their interest in science and reflect their extensive talent. Martin Heade included his ideas in his Hummingbird related painting series, while Rockman uses his works to declare his environmental messages. Additionally, both men have been innovative, revolutionary, and sometimes controversial with their subjects and techniques. Martin Heade was born in 1819 in Lumberville, Pennsylvania, so first and foremost it is important to recognize that he was an American painter. Around 1857, when he was 36, Heade became interested in landscape painting and afterwards, moved to New York City and took a studio in a building that housed many of the famous Hudson River School†¦show more content†¦Heade was familiar with Charles Darwin’s research and The Origin of Species was published in 1859, while his Hummingbird collection was painted from 1875-1885. Not only was it likely that Heade was well familiar with Dar win’s theories, there is evidence showing he believed those theories. In the Hummingbird Series paintings, he included many allusions referring to Darwin. For example, in one of the works, Orchid with Two Hummingbirds, the orchid is highlighted because the orchid was the tool that at one point Charles Darwin had used to explain evolution. Darwin astonished the world by describing the orchid not as one of God’s perfect creations, but as â€Å"part of a family of plants exhibiting ingenious devices that had been modified over time to ensure cross-fertilization.† (Reynolda House Museum of American Art) The hummingbirds, thus, play a critical role for the flower by scattering its pollen. In addition to their scientific emphasis, these painting are filled with sexual associations, making them a controversial subject for Victorian audiences. This was a rejection of divine creation, and a support piece of natural selection. (Reynolda House Museum of American Art) Darwi n’s ideas were seen in culture as so drastically different from all his predecessors. They were unheard of, and revolutionary. Because of their unorthodox quality, individuals and people groups did not know how to respond