Thomas Doughty

Who was Thomas Doughty?

Thomas Doughty was an American artist of the Hudson River School. Born in Philadelphia, Thomas Doughty was the first American artist to work exclusively as a landscapist and was successful both for his skill and the fact that Americans were turning their interest to landscape. He was known for his quiet, often atmospheric landscapes of the rivers and mountains of Pennsylvania, New York, New England, and especially the Hudson River Valley. He taught himself how to paint while apprenticing for a leather manufacturer. In 1827 he was elected into the National Academy of Design as an Honorary Academician.

He worked mostly in Philadelphia, but also lived and worked in Boston and New York.