Thomas Cole. A Description of his Life and his Series of Paintings "The Course of Empire" and "The Voyage of Life"

Seminar Paper , 2016 , 14 Pages , Grade: 2

English Language and Literature Studies - Culture and Applied Geography

This paper describes the life and work of Thomas Cole. After a description of Cole's biography, the second chapter deals with two series of paintings: "The Course of Empire" and "The Voyage of Life". Finally, the Hudson River School will be described.

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• Biography
• Series of paintings
  • The Course of Empire (1833-1836)
  • The Voyage of Life
• Hudson River School

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This work aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the life and work of Thomas Cole, a significant figure in the American landscape painting tradition. It examines his artistic development, his key series of paintings, and his influence on the Hudson River School.

• The development of Cole's artistic style and his transition from portraiture to landscape painting.
• The significance of Cole's travels and his engagement with European art and culture.
• The themes of civilization, progress, and the relationship between humanity and nature in Cole's work.
• Cole's contribution to the emergence of the Hudson River School and his influence on subsequent generations of American landscape painters.

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

• Biography: This chapter traces the life and career of Thomas Cole, from his early years in England to his artistic development in America. It highlights his key influences, his travels, and his rise to prominence as a landscape painter.
• The Course of Empire (1833-1836): This chapter explores Cole's famous five-part series of paintings, which depict the rise and fall of a civilization. It analyzes the symbolism and allegorical meaning of each painting and discusses the series' significance in Cole's oeuvre.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

Key terms and concepts explored in this work include American landscape painting, Hudson River School, Thomas Cole, The Course of Empire, The Voyage of Life, civilization, progress, nature, wilderness, allegory, symbolism, and artistic influence.

• College: University of Vienna
• Grade: 2
• Author: Andrea Sido (Author)
• Publication Year: 2016
• Pages: 14
• Catalog Number: V369856
• ISBN (eBook): 9783668524200
• ISBN (Book): 9783668524217
• Language: English
• Tags: thomas, cole, description, life, series, course, empire, voyage