Tag Archives: Thomas Cole
Voyage of Life (1st set) ~ ~ ~ “Old Age”
Well, we’ve reached the last one. Val’s favorite was the third one (Manhood), but this is mine. I get chills when I look at it. Oh, and Alexandra? The angels have reentered the building! 
It’s called “Old Age”.
I seriously urge you to go the the link and enlarge, enlarge, enlarge until you can see the cloud. It’s FILLED with angels and quite amazing! Actually, the entire picture is much better at the link…
Thomas Cole’s own words:
The wings of Time are heavier & heavier laden as he flies; each hour brings its own trouble without dissipating that of the past. This reconciles us to death; when the soul is fatigued rest is welcome. ‘O that I had the wings of a dove, then would fly away & be at rest.’ Although pain & trouble may accumulate as we pass through life hope like a star lights our path & as the darkness deepens increases in brightness for as through reason of the darkness we perceive not the earth around us but look towards eternity which we trust contains brightness & glory & joy inconceivable. 1
Voyage of Life ~ ~ ~ “Manhood” (1st Set)
Okay, so we’ve looked at Childhood and Youth, and now it’s time for “Manhood”. I don’t know how many of you have been keeping up with these, but Alexandra has been doing a GREAT job.
It’s hard to see, but demons can be seen in the clouds above the man…
Storm and cloud enshroud a rugged and dreary landscape. Bare impending precipices rise in the lurid light. The swollen stream rushes furiously down a dark ravine, whirling and foaming in its wild career, and speeding toward the Ocean, which is dimly seen through the mist and falling rain. The boat is there, plunging amid the turbulent waters. The voyager is now a man of middle age: the helm of the boat is gone, and he looks imploringly toward heaven, as if heaven’s aid alone could save him from the perils that surround him. The Guardian Spirit calmly sits in the clouds, watching with an air of solicitude the affrighted voyager. Demon forms are hovering in the air.
The Voyage of Life ~ ~ ~ “YOUTH” (1st Set)
0Here is the second in a series of paintings I’ve been posting about. This one is called “YOUTH”. The artist is Thomas Cole and you can see an interactive version of the painting here:
YOUTH
The stream now pursues its course through a landscape of wider scope and more diversified beauty. Trees of rich growth overshadow its banks, and verdant hills form the base of lofty mountains. The Infant of the former scene is become a Youth, on the verge of Manhood. He is now alone in the Boat, and takes the helm himself; and in an attitude of confidence and eager expectation, gazes on a cloudy pile of Architecture, an air-built Castle that rises dome above dome in the far-off blue sky. The Guardian Spirit stands upon the bank of the stream, and with serious yet benignant countenance seems to be bidding the impetuous voyager ‘God Speed.’ The beautiful stream flows directly toward the aerial palace, for a distance; but at length makes a sudden turn, and is seen in glimpses beneath the trees, until it at last descends with rapid current into a rocky ravine, where the voyager will be found in the next picture. Over the remote hills, which seems to intercept the stream and turn it from its hitherto direct course, a path is dimly seen, tending directly toward that cloudy Fabric, which is the object and desire of the voyager.
The Voyage of Life by Thomas Cole (1st set)
As threatened promised, here are some of the painting that Fr. Rob and I saw at the National Gallery of Art. This is the first of a four part set. All four were in a small gallery, by themselves. They were huge. We lucked out and just happened to enter the gallery while a tour was going on, so we got some unique insights. Each picture was accompanied by text, written by the artist. I’ve included this text along with the paintings. I’m going to post them individually. I’d love to hear your thoughts and if you were as moved by them as I was.
Painting Number One is titled Voyage of Life:CHILDHOOD:
CHILDHOOD
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