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Mount Chocorua
Alvan Fisher (1792–1863)
Signed and dated lower left: Fisher
1860
Oil on canvas, 28 x 40 inches
Dr. and Mrs. J. A. Lovett
This canvas, which remained in artist Alvan Fisher’s collection, is one of several nineteenth-century American paintings that feature the artist as an observer of nature. The spectator is invited to gaze upon the scene along with the artist. The perceived sharing of a moment to observe and reflect on the redemptive qualities of nature heightened the painting’s impact for viewers. Fisher chose not to associate Mount Chocorua with the tragic legend of the Native American chief. Instead, his view of Mount Chocorua from the south is a beckoning image of pastoral harmony. It also reflects the economic and cultural progress occurring in the region as a result of tourism.
