Thomas Cole
Thomas Cole (1801–1848) was an Anglo-American painter and the founder of the Hudson River School, a mid-19th-century American art movement that celebrated the natural beauty of the American landscape. Born in Lancashire, England, Cole immigrated to the United States as a young man and was largely self-taught as an artist. His paintings are characterized by their grandiose depictions of the American wilderness, often imbued with a sense of the sublime, capturing both the beauty and power of nature.
Cole’s work was deeply influential in shaping the course of American landscape painting, and his depictions of the Hudson River Valley and the Catskills helped define the emerging American national identity. His major works, such as "The Course of Empire" and "The Oxbow," are now iconic in American art history. Cole’s legacy as the father of the Hudson River School is secure, and his works are held in major institutions like the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the National Gallery of Art.
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Full Name: Thomas Cole
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Birth and Death: 1801–1848
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Profession: Painter
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Influences: Hudson River School, Romanticism
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Legacy: As the founder of the Hudson River School, Cole’s works are celebrated in institutions such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the National Gallery of Art.
