Bierstadt's love of Utah and the Wasatch range are well documented. He came here numerous times between 1870 and 1900, making some of Utah's natural wonders iconic landmarks in the American imagination. In reference to one of the visits Bierstadt made to Utah, an article from The Utan Mining Journal wrote, "Mr. Albert Bierstadt, the celebrated American landscape painter, separated from his companions going down to Salt Lake City, of the beauty of whose scenery and surroundings the eminent artist had convinced himsel, on a former visit. Ever since the 20th of last month, he has been busy visiting all points of interest in the neighborhood of the capital of Utah. He paid especial attention to the magnificent scenery of the Cottonwoods and of American Fork Canyon, taking valuable sketches of all the romantic woodland scenes - the verdurous forest clades overtopped by sombre rock-giants and enlivened by rippling streams and roaring cataracts the boulder-strewn hill-sides and wild-rushing mountain-torrents, the picturesque farm-houses dotting peaceful and fertile vales and fields - over all the blue azure sky, now and then spotted with fleecy cirrhus clouds, or tapestned with wavy strato-cumulus clouds.
Mr. Bierstadt, most of the time, had in his company our promising home artist, Mr. Alfred Lambourne, in whom he discovered artistic talent of no common order. Mr. B. highly enjoyed his visit to Salt Lake City, and was greatly pleased with the kind and courteous reception he met on all sides..."
Oil on board
13 × 18 in.
Private Collection
