The Course of Empire: Thomas Cole's Warning to America

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tA2bnof3-D8 ^ | February 9, 2012 | Robb Bomboy

[Joe 6-pack]

"Thomas Cole, America's premier landscape painter of the 1820's and 1830's, constructed the idea for his series, The Course of Empire, from a variety of influences. He began his intense study of Europe and its art in 1829 by sailing to England, where he met and talked with influential artists such as J.M.W. Turner and John Martin. He studied the works of those artists and others in the British galleries of the time. Scholars recognize today that those artists' influence upon him was strikingly pervasive. Cole also felt the perishability of man's works when he traveled in Europe and saw firsthand the ruins of the Roman Empire. There, sitting among the broken columns, he meditated on man's works, ambitions, and the course of the future. Literary sources of the day, especially Lord Byron's Childe Harold, also influenced his thinking and his artistic consciousness. Moreover, anyone studying his work today must continually bear in mind that Cole lived and worked in his own time, reacting to the political atmosphere of America during the 1820's and 1830's. Jacksonian Democracy had come to dominance, an ascendancy that Cole despised and believed was leading the United States down the wrong path. At the same time, artistically, he wanted to raise landscape painting to the stature that history painting enjoyed. To do that, and to comment on the America he saw around him, he employed a cyclical theory of history to incorporate large moral lessons into his paintings. All of those influences led Cole to paint his epic series as a warning to American society about the trappings of empire, conquest, and domination. Using his own words from time to time in this essay, I will outline the artist's warning."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tA2bnof3-D8

[ETL]

Lol. I believe it.

BTW, I was a geology major at Queens College in NY. Unfortunately, I couldn’t finish the degree. And I painted landscapes while in college. Nearly sold one for $375! Teacher talked me out of it. Said I worked too hard on the painting to sell it.

[Joe 6-pack]

Very cool. I double majored in history and art history at Gettysburg College (with a minor in studio). Do you still paint?

[ETL]

No, although I would like to again one day. That was back in the early 80s.

[KC Burke]

When you fellows start a painting thread for re-treads give me a ping. I did a little as a teenager and now retiring I am going to start again to see if I can learn landscapes as a craft.

[Joe 6-pack]

My brother got his MS in Geophysics at PSU; he critiqued the rock and landforms in my paintings lol. Many people know John Ruskin as perhaps the preeminent art critic/historian of the 19th century, but he was also a decent artist in his own right. As geology guy, you might like his, Study of Gneiss Rock, Glenfinlas:

[ETL]

Wow! That’s really “gneiss”! Seriously, it’s very good. Looks like a photograph.

[Hiddigeigei]

Not sure who did this one. But it's probably Bierstadt or Church.

Sierra Nevada 1873
Albert Bierstadt
Reynolda House Museaum of American Art
2250 Reynolda Road
Winston-Salem, NC 27106
reynolda@reynoldahouse.org

[ETL]

Thanks. Figured that. I need to go through my vast collection and begin labeling them.

[KC Burke]

this will help

http://www.hudson-river-school.org/the-collection.html

[Conservative4Ever]

thank you for posting this most interesting video on Thomas Cole. Enjoyed it very much. The painting are exquisite. In the fireplace mural sketches, along with the unfinished sun positions above the finished work; there are two side panels on the fireplace. Would be interesting to know if he had any thoughts on something for this space too. Thank you again for posting.

[Conservative4Ever]

Oh my goodness. The water is beautifully done.

[Joe 6-pack]

You’re quite welcome - glad you enjoyed it :-)

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks Joe 6-pack.

Thomas Cole... also felt the perishability of man's works when he traveled in Europe and saw firsthand the ruins of the Roman Empire... Cole lived and worked in his own time, reacting to the political atmosphere of America during the 1820's and 1830's. Jacksonian Democracy had come to dominance, an ascendancy that Cole despised and believed was leading the United States down the wrong path... he employed a cyclical theory of history... his epic series as a warning to American society about the trappings of empire, conquest, and domination.

How timely that his dislike of Jackson should come up ($20 bill). There is no cycle to history. If Cole were alive today he'd be using a TV series as a soapbox.

[To Hell With Poverty]

Oh my goodness, spectacular. I had the pleasure of seeing The Course of Empire in its totality at Chrystal Bridges last year. It was stunning. They also have Durand’s Kindred Spirits in their permanent collection.

[ETL]

Yes, Asher B. Durand was definitely among the best of the Hudson
River School painters.

Kindred Spirits by Asher B. Durand

[ETL]

In The Woods by Asher B. Durand

[To Hell With Poverty]

Mmmm, love that stuff. :) My parents used to live in the Catskills for several years. We're all from central NY State, but I did love visiting them while they were in that area. Beautiful area, both spacious and insular. I can see how the artists were prompted to look closely both outwards and inwards.