This lecture brings us to America through iconic works of the late 18th through mid-19th centuries reflecting the political shaping and natural shape of the New World. In the work of a broad range of artists, from West and Homer to Whistler, Sargent, and Hartley, we see a focus on the inspiring vastness of the continent; an expression of Romantic sensibility in landscapes; as well as a fascination with Europe and its art, with Impressionism embraced by Americans even before it is accepted by the French.