Thomas Cole (1801-1848)
nDiscovered in 1825 by
–John Trumbull,
–William Dunlap
–Asher B. Durand
n“The subject of art should
n be pure and lofty . . .a moral,
nreligious, or poetic effect
nmust be produced on the mind.”
In the spring of 1825 the 24-year-old Cole arrived in NYC from Philadelphia and began painting landscapes.  Several were exhibited in the shop of George Dixie.  Some were seen by George Washington Bruen, a merchant and a patron of the American Academy of Fine Arts.  Bruen bought one or more of Cole’s paintings and provided him with money to visit the Hudson in late August.  Returning with a portfolio of sketches, Cole executed 5 paintings; placed with dealer William Colman, they were seen by John Trumbull, artist and president of American Academy.  All 3 were bought, one by Asher B. Durand, and that’s how Cole’s career began.