Albert Bierstadt (1830-1902) German-American Artist Preview and Print Preview and print this free printable artist biography by clicking on the orange button.

Albert Bierstadt was born on January 8, 1830 in Solingen, Germany. His family emigrated to America with his parents and two brothers when he was two years old. His family settled in New Bedford, Massachusetts where his father established a business as a barrelmaker.

Bierstadt, at the age of 23 decided to travel back to Germany to study painting with members of the Düsseldorf School. He remained there from 1853 to 1857. His first landscapes were painted in Germany.

Bierstadt returned to America, and began painting the landscapes of New England and upstate New York. In 1859, he traveled westward with Frederick W. Lander, a U.S. government land surveyor. During this trip he was inspired to paint a scene of the Rocky Mountians. After Colonel Lander's died, he named the highest peak in the painting Lander's Peak.

Albert Bierstadt died on February 18, 1902 in New York City, New York. He is best known for his large landscapes paintings of the American West. His most famous works include The Rocky Mountians: Landers Peak (1863), and Valley of the Yosemite (1864), which was featured on an American Treasures series postage stamp in 2008.

Albert Bierstadt Lesson Resources

Albert Bierstadt | Word Search Worksheet
"Meet the Artist" Job Application | Worksheet

Albert Bierstadt Art Gallery

The Rocky Mountians: Lander's Peak (1863) by Albert Bierstadt | Oil on Canvas The highest Rocky Mountain peak was named after Colonel Frederick W. Lander, a U.S. government land surveyor that Bierstadt traveled west with in 1859.