Hunter Museum of American Art

Analysis

Between 1840 and 1860, more than 400,000 immigrants came to America. Charles Blauvelt often painted newly arrived immigrants with a sympathetic eye. Here, he shows a family, still on the dock, and emphasizes the angelic quality of the mother by placing her pose reminiscent of the Madonna and Child in religious art.

The Hunter asked our visitors to relate their own immigrant stories in a journal by this painting. Follow this link to read some of their responses.