Beech Trees

William McKendree Snyder (American, 1849-1930)

date unknown. oil on fabric. 31.1 x 50.8 cm см. Indianapolis Museum of Art.

Very different from the looser work of his contemporaries in this gallery, Snyder’s images are composed of tiny, jewel-like daubs of paint, creating a nearly dizzying level of detail. Snyder’s favorite subject matter was the beech forests in autumn near his home along the Ohio River in Madison, Indiana. He painted them with intense dedication to botanical accuracy rather than an Impressionist’s attention to changing effects. A photographer friend often accompanied Snyder on sketching trips. Snyder would complete rough sketches to note color intensity, cloud effects, and atmosphere. Upon returning to his studio he would use these sketches alongside his friend’s photographs to create a finished oil painting.