Thomas Cole and Thomas Cole and Harriet Martineau:Harriet Martineau:

Defenders of American Defenders of American SceneryScenery

Presented by Meredith Gorres, Marist College

““American Scenery”American Scenery”

Written by Thomas Cole in 1836Written by Thomas Cole in 1836 Showed the British (and some Showed the British (and some

Americans) that American scenery Americans) that American scenery was still admirable even though it was still admirable even though it was differentwas different

5 Qualities of American Scenery

Sublime Beautiful Picturesque Associations Ability to ennoble us

SublimeOpen expanses of land

The Hemlock

Tree

Lofty Mountains

Changes in the weather

The Elm tree

The sky on winter

evenings

Beautiful

PicturesquePicturesque

Associations

American Associations

Ability to Ennoble the Viewer

Four Universal Elements of Scenery

Mountains Forest Water Sky

MountainsMountains

• The most conspicuous objects of the landscape

• European mountains – “Mostly bare”– Picturesque– Possessive of grandeur

• American mountains– Covered by dense forests– Gorgeously clothed

ForestForest

PrimitivePrimitive UncultivatedUncultivated Possessive of peculiarities, individuality, Possessive of peculiarities, individuality,

and uniquenessand uniqueness Authentic and realAuthentic and real

Types of TreesTypes of Trees

Oaks Elm

s

Birches

Beeches

Planes

Hemlocks

Deciduous forests

WaterWater

• Landscape defective without itLandscape defective without it

• ““A most expressive feature”A most expressive feature”

• The Rhine vs. the HudsonThe Rhine vs. the Hudson

• Ability to mirror surroundingsAbility to mirror surroundings

SkySky

The soul of all sceneryThe soul of all scenery Affects the landscapeAffects the landscape

England’s Silver Haze

The North’s Blue Skies

The Torrid The Torrid Zone’s Thunder Zone’s Thunder CloudsClouds

Italy’s Golden Italy’s Golden AtmosphereAtmosphere

Harriet Martineau

1802-1876

European travel writer

A prominent Victorian woman of letters

Traveled the US from 1834-1836

““Pine Orchard House”Pine Orchard House”

Written in 1838 about her experiences Written in 1838 about her experiences at the Catskill Mountain Houseat the Catskill Mountain House

Jasper Francis Cropsey’s “Catskill Mountain House”- 1855

What It Looks Like TodayWhat It Looks Like Today

View from ledge

Hotel site