Expressions of Place

Although Haseltine's 1860s New England shore scenes lack the elemental power of Winslow Homer's, his geologically precise protrayals of rock, sea and sky exude a quiet sense of wonder. The Philadelphia-born artist, affiliated with the Hudson River and Luminist schools, moved to Europe in 1866, settling in Rome. The resplendent watercolors and oils of his European years--including scenes of Cannes, Sicily, Bavaria and the coasts of Holland and Belgium--reveal an individualistic painter of many moods, from delicate and ethereal to sultry and romantic. Notable are his calm, monumental renderings of Greek and Roman ruins and his astonishing views of Venice's boats, lagoons and sunsets. This catalogue of an exhibit at the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco profiles an artist in love with light and its transformative effects on landscape. Simpson is a curator at the Museums, Mills a former associate curator, Henderson an art historian. (Oct.)