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Thomas Hill

Paintings in Inventory

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Artist's Biography

Thomas Hill was California's leading resident landscape painter during the 1870s, rivalled only by William Keith. In 1876, Hill's large painting of Yosemite was one of only twelve American works of art (out of 400) to be given an award by an international jury at the Philadelphia Centennial. During this period of his career, he was an artist of national importance, and his works were sought after by collectors in New York and Boston, as well as San Francisco.Better known for his pure landscapes and wood interiors, Thomas Hill was an excellent portrait and animal painter, having received training in these aspects of his profession at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts. Two years of study in France in 1867 and 1868 reinforced his skills in this field, while they also convinced the artist to devote most of his time to landscape. Hill's ability to do portraits enabled him to paint his masterpiece, Driving the Last Spike, with its numerous figures of railroad builders.