Thomas Cole (American, 1801-1848), "Voyage of Life: Youth," Boston: B.B. Russell, ca. 1860 CE. Engraved by James Smillie (American born Edinburgh, Scotland 1807, died Poughkeepsie, NY 1885) from the original painting by Cole in the possession of Rev. Gorham Abbott Spingler Institute New York. A touching image by Thomas Cole who is known as the founder of the Hudson River School of landscape painting and produced both realistic and imaginary landscapes. Samuel Ward commissioned Cole to paint a set of four allegorical paintings in 1839. Four prints, engraved after Cole’s paintings by James Smillie (also known as J. Smillie) depict the stages of life from birth to death. Cole’s inspiration may have come from a sermon by Reverend Reginald Heaver referring to “life [which] bears on us like the stream of a mighty river.” Size: image measures 15.25" L x 22.5" W (38.7 cm x 57.2 cm); 23" L x 28.5" W (58.4 cm x 72.4 cm) in portfolio

In 1849, Smillie engraved "Youth" for the American Art Union (1839-1851), an organization created to support and develop popular appreciation of American art by issuing prints engraved after paintings which the organization owned. The favorable reception of this print led Smillie to engrave the three other voyages and issue the four print set in 1855. This image shows the man just beginning to depart from his guardian angel, before he begins to deal with the difficult currents of manhood through appeal to God. Ref: "Thomas Cole. One Hundred Years Later. A Loan Exhibition." Boston and New York: Wadsworth Athenæum and Whitney Museum of American Art, 1949. Matthew Baigell, "Thomas Cole," New York, 1981.

The Philadelphia Print Shop label on verso reads in part, "A print from Thomas Cole's famous series, "Voyage of Life." Painted in 1839 to '40, the four scenes concern the stages of a man's life and his personal salvation. This image is the second in the series, and it shows the man just beginning to depart from his angel prior to dealing with the difficult currents of manhood through appeal to God. In 1849, Youth was engraved by James Smillie and issued separately by the American Art Union. The favorable reception of this effort led Smillie to engrave the other three scenes and issue the set in 1855. This print was not published by either the AAU or James Smillie, but by Russell in Boston. Most likely, Russell acquired the plate not long after Smillie published his series in order to take advantage of the popularity of the series."

Provenance: private Denver, Colorado, USA collection

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#129416

Image is vivid and superb. Text below a tad faded. A few repaired tears in the margins that do not disrupt the image. Very light stain in left margin, minor discoloration to margins.