Ruins in Arcadia Studies on Thomas Cole’s Italian Landscapes

• Main Authors: Shia, Victoria, 夏志怡
• Other Authors: Syndikus, Candida
• Format: Others
• Language: en_US
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/744r5x

碩士 === 國立臺灣師範大學 === 藝術史研究所 === 106 === Motivated by the desire to benefit from the treasures in nature and art of Italy, the English-American artist Thomas Cole (1801–48), eminent leader of the Hudson River School, traveled to the bel paese twice in his life, in 1831–32 and 1841–42. During these visits, Cole not only took art classes in order to improve his skills, but also visited museums and historical places. Most importantly, he went on sketching trips, an activity essential for the creation of his future landscape paintings. After the journeys, Cole developed from his sketches paintings representing Italian landscapes with ruins. Aqueduct near Rome (1832; Saint Louis), Roman Campagna (1843; Hartford), Temple of Segesta with the Artist Sketching (1842–43; Boston) and Mount Etna from Taormina (1843; Hartford) are examples of such studio paintings which are closely examined in this study. Premised on the notion that the pastoral theme is present in these works, Cole’s understanding of Italy as an Arcadian realm has been scrutinized. The link between Cole’s works and the two Italian journeys has been profoundly analyzed. To that end, a selection of the artist’s literary accomplishments that echo the experiences made during the travels has been subjected to further examination. The results are confronted with outcome of the paintings’ visual analysis in order to present in detail similar structural features. For the painter, Italy was definitely an ideal realm, a place rich in art, nature and culture, where he could—liberated from pressure of daily life at home—develop further his concepts of ideal landscape.