Thomas Cole Paintings

Thomas Cole Paintings

Lake with dead trees is one of cole s earliest works depicting the landscapes of the catskill mountains in south east new york state. A self taught artist from bolton in england thomas cole 1801 1848 was the greatest american landscape artist of his generation.

Hudson River School Wikipedia

In so doing he effectively laid the foundations for the entire style of romantic painting in north america.

Thomas cole paintings. Hurlbut collection in 1826 cole made his home in the village of catskill new york on the western bank of the hudson river. In the cleveland museum of art. Though devoted to the study of nature and usually thought of as a landscape artist moralistic and religious themes were central to cole s paintings.

This is a rare chance to see cole s epic works mostly travelling from america including his masterpiece the oxbow and his awe inspiring portrayals of eden showing the force of nature. Shroon mountain adirondacks oil painting by thomas cole 1838. Cole s work is known for its romantic portrayal of the american wilderness.

Thomas cole february 1 1801 february 11 1848 was an english born american painter known for his landscape and history paintings. The paintings of thomas cole like the writings of his contemporary ralph waldo emerson stand as monuments to the dreams and anxieties of the fledgling american nation during the mid 19th century. One is poised and alert the other leaps skittishly off to the right.

Thomas cole was a 19th century american artist widely regarded as a founder of the hudson river school and known for his romantic landscape and history paintings. Thomas cole february 1 1801 february 11 1848 was an english born american painter known for his landscape and history paintings. Courtesy of the cleveland museum of art ohio the hinman b.

The course of empire is a series of five paintings created by thomas cole in the years 1833 1836. Influenced by european painters but with a strong american sensibility he was prolific throughout his career and worked primarily with oil. And they are also euphoric celebrations of its natural landscapes.

Thomas cole was the first of the hudson river school of painters often characterized as being the first native american school of painting. He is regarded as the founder of the hudson river school an american art movement that flourished in the mid 19th century. One of the major 19th century american painters he is regarded as the founder of the hudson river school an american art movement that flourished in the mid 19th century.

At the edge of a motionless lake surrounded by dead trees two deer are roused into action. While romantic landscape painting was a firmly established tradition in europe by the early 19th century thomas cole was the first artist to forge a version of that style centered on and inspired by the north american landscape. It is notable in part for reflecting popular american sentiments of the times when many saw pastoralism as the ideal phase of human civilization fearing that empire would lead to gluttony and inevitable decay.