Albert Bierstadt's paintings are amazing! They have all the colors and detail of the real world.

In 1830 Albert was born in Solingen, Germany. When he was 2 his family moved to New Bedford, Massachusetts. That's a long way!

We don't know much about his childhood but when he was 20 he taught painting in New Bedford. His paintings were also exhibited in Boston that year. He had no art training so he went to Germany in 1853 to study art. When he was there he also did a lot of traveling.

After he returned to America he became famous in New Bedford. In 1858 he had a large exhibit and became nationally known.

When he went to Colorado and Wyoming during 1859 he make many sketches and took photographs of the scenery. About 1860 he moved to New York. He painted landscapes and became even more famous.

From 1864 to 1870 he got married, built a mansion and went to Europe for 2 years. He also creasted many beautiful landscape paintings. He did so much we don't think he slept during that time.

During 1863 and again in 1871-73 he made 2 more trips to the west. He sold one of his paintings for $25,000. This was the highest payment for one painting of that time.

In 1882 his mansion burned down. In 1893 his wife died and in 1902 he died.

We got our information from:
The World Book Encyclopedia, Vol.
and this web site.