Tree Trunks

1825

Landscapes in a bookshop window

Back in New York, Cole put the landscapes from the trip on show in a bookshop window, where they caught the eye of John Trumbull, Asher Durand and William Dunlap.

1825

Trumbull introduces him to Gilmor and Wadsworth

John Trumbull, the most impressed of them, sought out the young landscape painter, bought one of his pictures and introduced him to Robert Gilmor and Daniel Wadsworth, who became his patrons.

summer 1825

A summer in the Hudson Valley

With Bruen's money Cole spent the summer in the Hudson Valley, where he painted his well-known “Kaaterskill Falls” and “View of Fort Putnam”.

1829–1832

First journey to Europe: England and Italy

Cole spent these years abroad, mainly in England and Italy.

1836

Marries Maria Bartow

Cole married Maria Bartow of Catskill, a niece of the owners of Cedar Grove, and became a year-round resident there; the couple had five children.

1841–1842

Second journey: the Grand Tour and Etna

Cole was in Europe again, mainly in England and Italy, and in 1842 set out on the Grand Tour to study the Old Masters. Mount Etna struck him most: he made several sketches and at least six paintings of it, the best known being “A View of Mount Etna from Taormina”.