Thomas Cole (1801–1848) was a 19th-century American artist who is widely regarded as one of the greatest landscape painters of all time. His vivid portrayals of the American landscape and wilderness earned him great recognition all over the world and his works continue to inspire countless artists even today.
Born in Bolton, Lancashire, England, Cole immigrated to the United States with his family in 1818. Interestingly, he learned the basics of painting from a wandering portrait painter named Stein in Ohio. After trying his luck with portraits for a while, Cole shifted his interests towards landscape art which eventually turned out to be his true calling. While growing up, he had witnessed the environmental destruction of his native home as a consequence of industrialization. This influenced Cole’s works and made him focus on the quiet beauty of the natural landscapes.
Before the age of 30, Cole had begun painting wilderness landscapes with great abandon. He was one of the first artists to highlight the magnificent scale and beauty of various North American landscapes. As he grew more experienced, he also trained the next generation of American landscape artists like Frederic Edwin Church and Jasper Francis Cropsey.
Even though Thomas Cole passed away at the relatively young age of 47, his prolific works have left a huge impact on the world. Today, we will take a look at some of the most gorgeous paintings of this influential artist.
