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Each morning I spend a few minutes searching the internet for an old painting or similar that i think looks cool (professional i know). today it was this painting of the wilderness in early morning:

(View the full sized image here)

I then give identifying info about the work to Perplexity with the instructions to research it and tell me all the interesting things it can about said work. today it gave me this:

The Savage State: Dawn of an Empire Destined to Fall

A vast wilderness stretches before us, wild and majestic in the early morning light. A hunter, dressed in animal skins, moves carefully through the dense forest, his bow drawn as he follows a wounded deer near the brook. In the distance, small figures paddle canoes along a winding river, while smoke rises from a small encampment where indigenous people dance around a fire near simple teepees. Towering mountains pierce through storm clouds that are beginning to clear as the sun rises from the sea, casting a golden light across the untouched land. This is The Savage State, the first painting in Thomas Cole’s five-part series The Course of Empire, a masterpiece depicting civilization at its most primitive stage.

A World Emerging from Chaos

What makes The Savage State so compelling is Cole’s careful attention to symbolic detail. A distinct mountain peak with a massive, precariously balanced boulder appears in the background, a feature present in all five paintings, representing nature’s enduring presence against the fleeting nature of human civilization. Cole placed this mountain at the center of the composition, shrouded in storm clouds, emphasizing nature’s dominance in this early stage of human existence.

Cole’s masterful use of light and shadow—what he called “flashing chiaroscuro”—creates a dynamic, almost living atmosphere, as if nature itself is awakening. His vivid colors and precise brushwork highlight the overwhelming presence of the natural world, while the rising sun foreshadows the civilization that will soon take root.

Hidden Details and Artistic Curiosities

A closer look at The Savage State reveals a ghostly figure, known as a “pentimento,” a remnant of an earlier idea that Cole painted over but has since become visible as the pigments aged. This reveals part of his creative process, showing how he refined his vision over time.

Cole signed the painting with a simple “T. Cole” on a rock in the lower right corner, a modest signature for what would become one of the most significant works in American art. His influences included European masters, particularly Salvator Rosa’s Rocky Landscape with a Hunter, which he likely saw during his travels in Europe.

A Warning in Paint

Beyond its dramatic landscape, The Savage State carries a deeper philosophical message. The hunter, pursuing his prey, represents humanity’s early efforts to control nature—a struggle that will intensify in the later paintings.

While many of Cole’s contemporaries saw America as a land of boundless opportunity, The Course of Empire suggests that all civilizations follow the same cycle of rise and inevitable decline. Inspired by Edward Gibbon’s The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire and Lord Byron’s Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage, Cole’s work warns against the excesses of progress. The series’ title itself comes from Bishop George Berkeley’s poem Verses on the Prospect of Planting Arts and Learning in America, which begins, “Westward the Course of Empire takes its way.”

Today, The Savage State is housed in the New-York Historical Society, continuing to captivate viewers with its timeless warning about the fragility of civilization and the unstoppable force of nature. As we look upon this vast wilderness and its tiny human figures, we are reminded of our own place in history’s cycle—a reflection as relevant now as it was when Cole first laid brush to canvas nearly two centuries ago.

The Artist and His Vision

Thomas Cole, an English-born American painter, created this striking oil on canvas between 1833 and 1836 as part of what would become his greatest work. Though he had gained recognition in the late 1820s for his Hudson River landscapes, he had larger ambitions. As early as 1827, he imagined a grand cycle of paintings illustrating the rise and fall of civilization. This vision became a reality when New York merchant Luman Reed commissioned him to create a series for his home gallery.

The Savage State, measuring 39.5 by 63.5 inches, set the foundation for Cole’s sweeping allegory, which continued through The Arcadian or Pastoral State, The Consummation of Empire, Destruction, and Desolation. Unfortunately, Reed passed away in June 1836 before the series was completed, but his family ensured Cole finished the work, which was later exhibited in New York to great acclaim.

And that's it!

If you have any details you think Perplexity left out, reply to this email and I'll adjust my prompt to nudge it to include it next time.

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Thanks for reading!

-JP

Current prompt: I want you to create a newsletter post describing the fun and exciting stories around a painting. It should be a newsletter read for leisure and should be an enjoyable read (not just a list of facts) here's what you’re gonna do: Find the name of the following painting in its original language and any alternative names it goes by. Then Research the painting and give me blurb telling me all you can about the artist, the historical context/events it was created in, the style, the materials used, the composition and visual elements, the story/underlying message, what inspired the work/what it meant to the author, and whatever other info you find that helps give a complete understanding of the work. A description of what is depicted (mention subjects) should be the first thing included but after that you are free to present the information in a concise and captivating way. Order the presentation of information for which pieces have the most compelling and interesting story to tell. At least some of the description should be formatted like a story. [fore example: a couple sits on a bench watching the sunset while a man next to them…]. ONLY include information that is for THIS SPECIFIC PAINTING. you will find info on paintings similar to this one but NOT this one. OMMIT INFO ABOUT SUCH PIECES.