Homer Dodge Martin (1836–1897)

Homer Dodge Martin was an American landscape painter known for his poetic depictions of nature, bridging the Hudson River School and the Barbizon-influenced style. Born in Albany, New York, he began as a carpenter and architect before turning to painting in 1852, largely self-taught, though he studied briefly with James Hart. His early work focused on upstate New York landscapes, including the Hudson River Valley and the Adirondacks.

Martin traveled to Europe twice, spending several years in France, where he encountered the Barbizon School and artists such as Camille Corot and James McNeill Whistler. This influence led to a looser, softer style with muted tones and blurred detail. He exhibited widely, was elected to the National Academy of Design in 1874, and helped found the Society of American Artists in 1877. Later in life, Martin moved to Saint Paul, Minnesota, where he continued to paint despite failing eyesight and ill health, producing works considered among his finest, including Harp of the Winds: A View on the Seine (Metropolitan Museum of Art), which was conceived from a sketch.