Is Edge of a Stream under copyright?

No, this artwork is in the public domain.

Get a giclee of Edge of a Stream - eliphalet frazer andrews

Collectible Description

The Smithsonian American Art Museum is home to a plethora of captivating artworks, including the serene Edge of a Stream by Eliphalet Frazer Andrews. This oil on canvas painting measures 35 x 27 cm and is a beautiful depiction of a country scene with a large house situated next to a river. The house has a green roof, which adds to the charm of the scene. There are several people in the picture, some standing near the house and others closer to the water's edge.

Artistic Style and Technique

Eliphalet Frazer Andrews was an American painter known primarily as a portraitist, but his landscape paintings, such as Edge of a Stream, showcase his ability to capture the beauty of nature. The painting features a peaceful and idyllic countryside setting, with the stream flowing gently through the scene. The use of color and light in the painting creates a sense of serenity and tranquility. Key Features of the Painting:

The large house with a green roof
The people standing near the house and by the water's edge
The animal, likely a horse or cow, located towards the left side of the image
The peaceful and idyllic countryside setting

Artist Background

Eliphalet Frazer Andrews was born in Steubenville, Ohio, and received early training at Marietta College in Ohio. He furthered his study in the Royal Prussian Academy, Berlin, and with Leon Bonnat at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts, Paris. Andrews established an art instruction curriculum at the Corcoran School of Art and served as its director from 1877 to 1902.
For more information on Eliphalet Frazer Andrews and his artworks, visit /art/list/?Filter=Eliphalet-Frazer-Andrews. To explore more paintings by the artist, including Interior of a Kitchen and Figures on Horseback, visit /art/list/?Filter=eliphalet+frazer+andrews,eliphalet,frazer,andrews&.

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Artist Biography

The Master of Light and Legacy: The Life of Eliphalet Frazer Andrews

In the grand tapestry of nineteenth-century American art, few threads are woven as intricately as those left by Eliphalet Frazer Andrews. Born in June 1835 in Steubenville, Ohio, Andrews emerged as a painter who possessed a rare duality of vision: the ability to capture the monumental weight of history and the quiet, breathing intimacy of a domestic corner. His journey was one of constant refinement, beginning with his academic foundations at Marietta College before venturing into the heart of the European art world. By immersing himself in the prestigious studios of Düsseldorf and Paris, studying under luminaries such as Lüdwig Knaus, Heinrich Mücke, and Léon Bonnat, Andrews absorbed a sophisticated mastery of light, shadow, and form that would later define his uniquely American sensibility.

The essence of Andrews’s artistry lies in his profound command over the atmosphere of a space. While he was widely celebrated as a premier portraitist—earning prestigious commissions to capture the dignity of figures like Rutherford B. Hayes—his true genius often revealed itself in his interior scenes. In works such as Interior and Interior of a Kitchen, one does not merely see a room; one feels the passage of time. Through the meticulous use of oil on canvas and delicate glazing techniques, he achieved a luminous quality that allowed light to dance across stone walls and weathered wood, imbuing even abandoned or neglected spaces with a haunting, palpable soul. His landscapes, too, such as the serene Edge of a Stream, demonstrate an ability to blend the pastoral charm of the American countryside with a sophisticated, almost Impressionistic touch.

A Pillar of American Artistic Institution

Beyond the canvas, Andrews’s influence on the American cultural landscape was structural and enduring. He was not merely a creator of images but a builder of institutions. His most significant contribution to the future of American art was his pivotal role in the establishment of the Corcoran School of Art in Washington D.C. Serving as its director from 1877 to 1902, he crafted an instructional curriculum that would shape generations of artists, fostering a standard of excellence that bridged European tradition with New World innovation. This commitment to pedagogy ensured that his devotion to technical precision and observational truth would outlive his own brushstrokes.

The historical significance of Andrews is further cemented by the locations where his work resides today. His paintings serve as visual chronicles of American power and heritage, with notable pieces adorning the White House and being preserved within the Smithsonian American Art Museum. Whether he was recreating the likenesses of deceased American icons or capturing the quiet dignity of a sunlit room, Andrews remained a visionary who understood that the smallest detail—a glint of light on a windowpane or the texture of a stone wall—could tell the grandest story of a nation’s spirit.