Martin Johnson Heade
Study of an Orchid, 1872
Oil on canvas, 18 x 23 in. (45.7 x 58.4 cm)
The Robert L. Stuart Collection, S-112
contrast to the untamed wilderness of
North America as portrayed by these same
artists.
In the final section of the exhibition,
Grand Landscape Narratives, all of these
ideas converge in Thomas Cole’s epic fivepainting series, The Course of Empire (c.
1834-1836). Through this sweeping visual
narrative, Cole traces the evolution of a
great civilization, one born from a virginal,
untamed savage landscape, to its ultimate
decay into ruin and desolation.
Through these iconic works—equally
heralded at their time of creation as
they remain today—Cole provides a
cautionary tale and explores the tension
between Americans’ deep veneration of
the wilderness and their equally ardent
celebration of progress.
“The Museum is delighted to bring this
extraordinary exhibition to Columbia,
giving visitors from around the Southeast
the opportunity to see incredibly beautiful
works by highly skilled painters of the 19th
century,” Karen Brosius, executive director,
said. “We are so grateful to the New-York
Historical Society for sharing this superb
collection for the first ????????????) ?????????????????????????????????)???????????????????????????????)M????????????????t)]??????????????????????????????)A???????????????????????????)??????????????????????????)????????????????????????????????)???????????????????????????????)???????????????????Q???????????)?????????????????????????? )???????????????()Q???????????????????????????????)??? ??????????????)M?????????M???????()-?????)???? ???????)??M????? ??????5??4??????M??????)Q????????????????????????????????9??e???!????????M???????)Q?????????????????????????)?????????
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