Natural Bridge, Virginia, ca. 1835
Jacob C. Ward
American, 1809-1891
Oil on panel

Jacob Ward painted the Natural Bridge in Virginia so that viewers gaze at the geological marvel from below. This low vantage point emphasizes the 200-foot height of the Bridge. Listed among the natural wonders of the world, the Natural Bridge was first owned by Thomas Jefferson, who received it from King George III in 1774.

During the early 19th century, many artists rendered the Natural Bridge because the site ranked with Niagara Falls as one of the new nation's most inspiring landmarks and tourist attractions. Such natural monuments were thought to distinguish America from Europe. Ward was one of America's first landscape painters and among the first contributors to exhibitions at the National Academy of Design in New York. *