Mount Aetna from Taormina 1843

Thomas Cole painted this view of Mount Etna from Taormina, Italy, at a time when American artists often looked to Europe for inspiration and cultural capital. Cole was a leading figure in the Hudson River School, and in this work we see how he applied its romantic vision to the European landscape. Consider the compositional choices, the play between light and shadow, and the evocative portrayal of nature's grandeur. Cole highlights the sublime power of nature while embedding a sense of historical reflection through the ruins. Italy, with its layers of history and cultural significance, provided American artists with a connection to the classical past, with all of its ruins. By studying travelogues and guidebooks from the period, we can better understand how Cole constructed his version of the picturesque. What was his attitude towards Italian history? What did he want viewers to feel as they looked at it?