The Tempest, Thomas Cole (1826)
The storm that rages in this early painting by Thomas Cole is a natural counterpoint to the overwrought emotions of the swooning, perhaps dying, woman in white. Here, Cole likely illustrates a frontier drama he authored in 1825. His emphasis on the “sublime and beautiful”—dimensions of nature thought to parallel human emotions—was a popular convention. Cole claims this scene as uniquely American: a modest homestead, likely of pioneers, stands humble and isolated in a wild landscape.The Tempest, Thomas Cole (1826)
The storm that rages in this early painting by Thomas Cole is a natural counterpoint to the overwrought emotions of the swooning, perhaps dying, woman in white. Here, Cole likely illustrates a frontier drama he authored in 1825. His emphasis on the “sublime and beautiful”—dimensions of nature thought to parallel human emotions—was a popular convention. Cole claims this scene as uniquely American: a modest homestead, likely of pioneers, stands humble and isolated in a wild landscape.
                                
Discover more Old Masters in the following collections:
 The endangered swan, Jan Asselijn
The endangered swan, Jan Asselijn The mill at Wijk bij Duurstede, Jacob Isaacksz. van Ruisdael
The mill at Wijk bij Duurstede, Jacob Isaacksz. van Ruisdael Queen Elizabeth of Bourbon
Queen Elizabeth of Bourbon Flower arrangement, Jan Davidsz. de Heem
Flower arrangement, Jan Davidsz. de Heem A Amsterdam street scene - Adrianus Eversen
A Amsterdam street scene - Adrianus Eversen The goldfinch, Carel Fabritius
The goldfinch, Carel Fabritius Vincent van Gogh. Flower beds in Holland
Vincent van Gogh. Flower beds in Holland Jacob Maris - Fishing boat
Jacob Maris - Fishing boat The School of Athens, Raphael
The School of Athens, Raphael Almond blossom painting by Vincent van Gogh
Almond blossom painting by Vincent van Gogh The Mirror, Robert Reid
The Mirror, Robert Reid Portrait of a woman, anonymous - 1633
Portrait of a woman, anonymous - 1633 The Milkmaid - Vermeer painting
The Milkmaid - Vermeer painting Agapanthus, Claude Monet
Agapanthus, Claude Monet Vincent van Gogh. Olive orchard
Vincent van Gogh. Olive orchard Cypresses
Cypresses The Artist’s Garden in Giverny, Claude Monet
The Artist’s Garden in Giverny, Claude Monet The great wave of Kanagawa, Hokusai
The great wave of Kanagawa, Hokusai Italian landscape with pine trees, Hendrik Voogd
Italian landscape with pine trees, Hendrik Voogd Bouquet of flowers on white background (seen at VT Wonen)
Bouquet of flowers on white background (seen at VT Wonen)