| George H. McCord | ||
| Birth Date: August 1, 1848 |
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| Death Date: April 6, 1909 Artist Gallery |
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| George Herbert McCord was born in New York City in 1848. He was a pupil of Samuel B. B. Morse and had exhibited at the National Academy of Design by 1870, becoming an associate member by 1880. In 1869 William Cullen Byrant said “The American soil is prolific of artists. The fine arts blossom not only in the populous regions of our country, but even in its solitary places”. “Evening Sunset of the Houstatonic River” is an example of the rural landscape paintings that were being created in America in the late 19th century. McCord’s landscapes were popular in their time for their atmospheric quality and highly developed sense of color. He made frequent trips to sketch in New England, Canada, Florida and the Upper Mississippi.
Conservation Note:
The New England scene, “Evening Sunset of the Houstatonic River”, was in very good condition, but grime and a discolored varnish obscured the artist’s spontaneous technique and dramatic sunset colors. The surface grim contained tobacco smoke residue which was successfully removed with a neutral aqueous solution. The varnish had darkened considerable over time but could be safely removed with a solvent mixture without disturbing the paint layer. After cleaning, a non-yellowing synthetic varnish was applied. The edges of the painting had been stained and abraded by the frame rabbet so in-painting was required along with sides.
The conservation of this painting was made possible through the Herbert W. Hoover Foundation.
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