Thomas Cole's Reform Movements During The 19th Century

During the 19th century there were a series of reform movements that occurred. Some of these reformation movements included; the Women’s Right Movement, Abolitionism (Slavery), The Romantic Art Movement and many more. The 19th century Romantic Art Movement was a time that artists and writers allowed nature to have a heavy influence on their works. In the 19th century, Thomas Cole was a romantic artist that expressed nature through his works. Some of these works include, The Voyage of Life, Romantic Landscape with Ruined Tower, and The Subsiding of Waters of the Deluge. Thomas Cole represents the romantic movement of the 19th century, because his paintings express the importance of nature as well as letting nature have a very heavy influence on these three famous works.

There were many different themes throughout the romantic art era. Two important themes from the Romantic Art Movement are; Common man as a hero, and escapism. Some themes that Cole uses are, Nature as a Refuge, source of knowledge and spirituality, and

He was born in England, however moved to America in 1818. This was the first of many of his big moves. When he first moved, he resided in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He lived and worked in Philadelphia for a few years. There he worked as an engraver. He then moved a few years to Ohio to rejoin with his family. However, he only lived there for a short time before he moved to New York in 1825. Shortly after moving to New York, Cole began a sketching tour. This sketching tour took place during April along the the Hudson River, starting in the Lower Hudson Valley, and travelling all the way up, ending in the Catskill Mountains. During this sketch tour, Cole painted only using an oil painting style. It was here, in New York, during this tour that Cole Painted three of his most famous paintings. These included; The Voyage of Life, Romantic Landscape with Ruined Tower, and The Subsiding of Waters of