The Dixon Gallery and Gardens is currently exhibiting Thomas Cole's Voyage of Life, a series of four huge paintings depicting four stages in a man's life. From the Dixon's current exhibitions page:
In the late 1820s, British émigré artist Thomas Cole emerged as a leading figure among a group of painters whose works embodied the romantic spirit of pre-Civil War America, later known as the Hudson River School. The Voyage of Life, Cole’s series of four allegorical landscapes is one of his greatest achievements. ....I find the series depressing in that it starts off brightly-lit and filled with hope and becomes progressively darker and filled with struggle before the man submits resignedly to his fate. Or maybe I'm misinterpreting the work, but you be the judge. Here they are:
Childhood:
Youth:
Manhood:
Old Age:
Also on display is Sunset, by Frederic Edwin Church:
I wandered the gardens while I was there, as I always do.
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I tend to agree that the older the person depicted, the darker the image. Personally, I thought Youth was the brightest, but I'm all for youth, anyway. I want to be 18 forever (grin).
ReplyDeleteThe gardens are magnificent, and the tulips are certainly in bloom. That "live plant" wall is fantastic. Very impressive. So glad you took us with you on this wonderful voyage. I always love these types of posts!
thx :) I do love the Dixon's gardens. There's always something to see.
DeleteWow. Looks like you had a wonderful day out. Beautiful art and gorgeous spring gardens. :)
ReplyDeleteArt and gardens! Isn't that the perfect combo! :)
DeleteI actually like Cole's series of paintings a lot. I enlarged them to see the details. I hadn't really tuned into the fact that the figure on the voyage always has an angel with him. The gardens are definitely a lift if the paintings seem depressing though.
ReplyDeleteHis guardian angel. I find it interesting that it's only in his dying years the angel is in front of him.
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