When Thomas Cole suddenly appeared on the New York art scene in 1825 American artists could only marvel at the genius that his paintings exuded. His depictions of the Hudson River Valley and the Catskill Mountains immediately redirected the course of American art. Cole¡¯s art proclaimed a radically new concept the wilderness was not merely picturesque¡ªit was also a revelation of the divine spirit. It was a subject to be painted as a celebration of the uniqueness and grandeur of nature in the New World. This idea transformed landscape painting into a visionary act, elevating the spectator to a higher plane of awareness. Title The Tempest Creator Thomas Cole Creator Lifespan 1801/1801 Creator Nationality American Creator Gender M Date 1826/1826 Provenance High Museum of Art, Atlanta; High Museum of Art, purchase with bequest of Clarissa Hale Poteat Type Paintings Rights Photo ? 2015 High Museum of Art Medium Oil on panel Dimensions 18 3/4 x 26 inches
