Updated November 2026 · ranked by our popularity score (searches, visits and orders for each work) · 32 works by John William Casilear in our catalogue
In short
Of all the originals John William Casilear left, the most famous is Lake George (1857). Close behind it come Mountain Lake Scene (1883) and Lake George (1851). Our catalog holds 32 works by John William Casilear; the gallery has kept the 31 the world admires most, each shown with its date, its museum and its story.
In the 1857 oil on canvas painting titled Lake George, John William Casilear depicts a large body of water situated within a mountainous landscape. The scene focuses on the surface of the lake, which is surrounded by dense clusters of trees. In the distance, mountain ranges rise above the treeline to form the background of the composition. The water contains several boats, and a single person is positioned near the…
To gaze upon this depiction of a mountain lake scene is to step across the threshold into an era of profound American romanticism. It speaks directly to the soul's yearning for untouched grandeur, embodying the very spirit that fueled the celebrated Hudson River School. This painting does not merely record a vista; it elevates it, transforming natural geography into a sublime meditation on permanence and peace. The composition guides the…
The composition centers on the expansive, tranquil surface of Lake George, framed by the dark, textured foliage of a sloping shoreline. In the distance, hazy mountain ranges rise against a luminous sky, their forms softened by atmospheric perspective. The horizontal orientation of the horizon line emphasizes the stillness of the water, creating a sense of immense breadth. Light appears to be diffused, suggesting the clarity of midday or the soft…
The eye meets a low vantage point, resting near the edge of a small stream. Water sits in the foreground, its surface catching the soft, diffused light of a pale sky. Above the water, the world rises in a series of organic curves. Mature deciduous trees form a dense, leafy canopy that frames the scene within an oval composition. These trunks and branches create a sense of enclosure, a private…
In the 1857 oil on canvas painting titled Lake George, John William Casilear captures a quiet moment within the natural landscape of New York. The scene focuses on the expansive surface of the lake, which rests peacefully amidst dense clusters of trees. These thickets of foliage frame the water, creating a sense of seclusion within the wilderness. In the distance, mountain ranges rise steadily above the treeline, their silhouettes forming…
In Alpine Lake, John William Casilear presents a scene of profound stillness. The viewer stands upon a rugged, rocky foreground, looking out across a calm body of water that rests at the base of massive, snow-capped mountains. This 1860 landscape captures a moment of quietude where the natural world exists in a state of perfect, undisturbed balance. The water reflects the soft blues and greys of the sky, mirroring the…
In "Above the Falls, Catskill" by John William Casilear, the viewer finds themselves immersed in a lush, dense forest rendered within an elegant oval format. The perspective begins from a low vantage point, crouching near a small stream that flows over a bed of rocks in the foreground. This positioning forces the eye to look upward, following the vertical orientation of the composition as it climbs from the rocky water…
Lake George is an oil on canvas painting by the artist John William Casilear, dated 1857. The work depicts a wide expanse of water situated within a mountainous landscape. The composition includes a large body of water, various mountain ranges, and a sky that meets the horizon in the distance. Trees and rocks are positioned along the shoreline and within the foreground, providing a sense of the local topography.
In the White Mountains is an oil painting by the American artist John William Casilear. The work dates to about 1863. It depicts a landscape scene within the White Mountains region of New Hampshire. The composition focuses on a mountain landscape during the autumn season.
River Scene, Catskills is an oil painting by the American artist John William Casilear. Created about 1861, this landscape work depicts a naturalistic scene within the Catskill Mountains. The composition focuses on the specific interplay between water, forest, and sky, presenting a view of the American wilderness through a detailed lens.
Lake at Sunset1863
12
Moonrise on the Coast1863
13
View on Lake George1857 · National Gallery of Art
14
Mountain Lake1861
15
Ullswater, England1867
16
Mount Chocorua1867
17
Genesee Meadows1870
18
Lake George1865
19
Mountain River Landscape1868
20
A Mountain Brook1877 · Museum of Fine Arts
21
Niagara Falls1872
22
Landscape with Cows1872 · New York Historical Society
23
Rocky Mountain Landscape1875
24
Looking Towards Catskills1874
25
River Sunset - View of the Catskills1883
26
Shore Scene1892
27
New England Beach Scene
28
Landscape with Hunter
29
Mountain Lake Scene
30
In the Catskills
31
River Landscape with SheepHigh Museum of Art
The four subjects that come back most often in these originals, each with its finest example.
The 7 museums that hold the most of the paintings on this page.
| Museum | City | Works by John William Casilear | Paintings from this list |
|---|---|---|---|
 New York Historical Society |
New York City | 3 | Landscape, River Scene, Catskills, Landscape with Cows |
 Metropolitan Museum of Art |
New York | 2 | Mountain Lake Scene, Lake George |
 National Gallery of Art |
Washington | 2 | Lake George, View on Lake George |
 High Museum of Art |
Atlanta | 2 | Alpine Lake, River Landscape with Sheep |
 Brooklyn Museum |
Brooklyn | 1 | Lake George |
 New Britain Museum of American Art |
New Britain | 1 | In the White Mountains |
 Museum of Fine Arts |
Boston | 1 | A Mountain Brook |
Pick a decade to see the original that defines it.
In the 1857 oil on canvas painting titled Lake George, John William Casilear depicts a large body of water situated within a mountainous landscape. The scene focuses on the surface of the lake, which is surrounded by dense clusters of trees. In the distance, mountain ranges rise above the treeline to form the background of the composition. The water contains several boats, and a single person is positioned near the…
In Alpine Lake, John William Casilear presents a scene of profound stillness. The viewer stands upon a rugged, rocky foreground, looking out across a calm body of water that rests at the base of massive, snow-capped mountains. This 1860 landscape captures a moment of quietude where the natural world exists in a state of perfect, undisturbed balance. The water reflects the soft blues and greys of the sky, mirroring the…
The sun hangs suspended over a lush expanse of green, casting a soft, luminous glow across the Genesee Meadows. A gentle river winds its way through the heart of the landscape, its surface reflecting the pale sky above. Near the water's edge, cows linger in the shade and the light, their heavy forms grounding the scene in a sense of profound stillness. Two horses move through the periphery, one to…
To gaze upon this depiction of a mountain lake scene is to step across the threshold into an era of profound American romanticism. It speaks directly to the soul's yearning for untouched grandeur, embodying the very spirit that fueled the celebrated Hudson River School. This painting does not merely record a vista; it elevates it, transforming natural geography into a sublime meditation on permanence and peace. The composition guides the…
Lake George (1857). Mountain Lake Scene (1883) and Lake George (1851) come next.
46 years old: Lake George dates from 1857, and John William Casilear was born in 1811.
Lake George, Mountain Lake Scene, Lake George, Landscape, Lake George, Alpine Lake, Above the Falls, Catskill, Lake George, In the White Mountains and River Scene, Catskills. The ranking above gives each one's year and museum.
Our catalog holds 32 works by John William Casilear, dated from 1851 to 1883.
Mostly in New York Historical Society (New York City), Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York) and National Gallery of Art (Washington). The museum table above lists them all.
In 1860s: 11 of the 31 works on this page were made then, Alpine Lake among them.
On this page, the earliest is Lake George (1851) and the latest Mountain Lake Scene (1883).
Trees (17), Sky (17) and Water (15), across the 31 works on this page.
Oil On Canvas, for 21 of the 31 works on this page.
Hudson river school, judging by the originals on this page.
Landscape, River Scene, Catskills and Landscape with Cows: the New York Historical Society, New York City holds 3 of the works on this page.
