What you are looking at
A fiery red and gold sunset blazes over a wild river valley of forest and mountains, with no people anywhere.
Why it is famous
Church painted it in 1860, on the eve of the American Civil War, and it is one of the best known works of the Hudson River School.
How big is Twilight in the Wilderness?
Twilight in the Wilderness measures 101.6 × 162.6 cm (40.0 × 64.0 in), without its frame. Its surface is about 4 times the area of the Mona Lisa.
Compare it with other paintings
Where to see it
It is at the Cleveland Museum of Art, which is free.
Museums move and lend paintings. Check the museum's website before you travel to see one work.
Frequently asked questions
Who painted Twilight in the Wilderness?
Frederic Edwin Church painted Twilight in the Wilderness in 1860.
Where is Twilight in the Wilderness?
Twilight in the Wilderness is in the Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, United States. (Gallery 206, American Landscape.)
How big is Twilight in the Wilderness?
101.6 × 162.6 cm (40.0 × 64.0 in). Its surface is about 4 times the area of the Mona Lisa.
What is Twilight in the Wilderness made with?
Oil on canvas.
Sources: Cleveland Museum of Art, Twilight in the Wilderness (1965.233), Open Access API; Wikidata Q56879420; Wikipedia, "Twilight in the Wilderness". Checked October 17, 2026. How we check.