-
Thomas Cole's Birth/Parents
Thomas Cole was born on February 1st, 1801. He was born in Bolton, Lacshire, England. His parents were James Cole and Mary Cole. -
Thomas Cole's Emigration
Thomas Cole emigrated to America from England in 1818. Thomas Cole's family settled in Steubenville, Ohio at age 17. At the age of twenty-two Thomas Cole moved to Philadelphia, and then later, in 1825, moved to New York City with his family. -
Beginning of Painting
Thomas Cole had worked in his father's buisness (wallpaper maufacturing company), and did not enjoy working for his father. But, when an itinerant artist comes along and gives Thomas Cole instructions, he starts to paint portraits and a few landscapes as well. He made his fortune in Ohio and Pennsylvania through painting portraits and landscapes. -
Thomas Cole's Education
Thomas Cole attended the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. This was a couple years after he and his family emmigrated to America. He went to the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts to study and learn how art can express something more than just looking at a piece of art, but to understand the meaning of the artwork. -
National Academy Museum and School
The National Academy Museum and School was founded by Thomas Cole, Asher B. Durand, Samuel F. B. Morse, and Martin E. Thompson. This National Academy Museum and School was built to promote the fine arts in America. It is located in Manhattan, New York City and is an honorary organization, museum, and school. -
Thomas Cole's Europe Expedition
Thomas Cole had gone back to England (where he was born) to study the works of Old Masters. While his stay in England, Thomas Cole chose to travel to France and in Italy, with long stays in Rome and Florence. This is where he had the idea to make his "Grand Project". -
Thomas Cole's Grand Project
In 1829 Thomas Cole had an idea to paint a landscape that traced the rise and the fall of civilization. In 1832 Thomas Cole managed to convince the retired New York merchant Luman Reed to support his grand project. The result was that the Course of Empire (New York Historical Society), was completed in 1836 and got a lot of views and good publicity. -
Hudson River School
Thomas Cole is known as a painter and artist, but also as the founding father of the Hudson River School. The Hudson River School was an American Art Movement in the mid-1900th century. This art movement was embodied by a group of landscape painters whose were influenced by romanticism. -
Voyage of Life: Old Age
Thomas Cole's last painting was named "Old Age", and was an image of death to him. He had painted this in 1842, and was meant to mean that he had survived the trials of life. This was Thomas Cole's last painting before his death. -
Thomas Cole's Death
Thomas Cole died on February 11th, 1848. He was 47 years old and died in Catskill, New York. Thomas Cole was buried in Catskill Village Cemetery, Catskill, NY.
