At the Stone Bridge by George Herbert McCord

At the Stone Bridge
George Herbert McCord (1848–1909)
Oil on canvas, 27 × 14 in.
Signed lower right: G.H. McCord

A lone figure stands on a worn stone bridge, gazing into a quiet stream as autumn leaves scatter across the path. Behind him, a cottage chimney releases a thread of smoke, hinting at life beyond the tree line. Above, a shifting sky moves from heavy gray clouds to patches of serene blue, evoking the passing of seasons and time. McCord’s atmospheric landscape is both grounded and lyrical, a testament to his gift for transforming familiar scenery into poetic reflection.

George Herbert McCord was an American landscape painter closely associated with the second generation of the Hudson River School and the emerging Tonalist movement. Celebrated for his ability to render light, weather, and mood with delicate precision, McCord painted widely across North America, often favoring quiet moments of natural beauty over grandiose vistas. His work embodies a serene, contemplative approach to nature.