General Wolfe Nature

Throughout American art, nature has played an important role in depicting a specific time and place in American history or serving as beautiful backdrops to showcase wealth and stature. Weather it is Jutus Engelhardt Kuhn’s portrait of Fig 3.4 Henry Darnall III or Benjamin West’s depicting Fig 4.23 The Death of General Wolfe, we are taken back to a specific time in our country’s history and as we move through time artist like John Vanderlyn’s portrayal of Fig 4.52 The Death of Jane McCrea he begins to showcase nature in a less theatrical and more in its natural state than in earlier times. Which, leads to Thomas Cole bring nature center stage depicting nature as divine mystical transcendental experiences, as is noted in Fig 5.38 Kaaterskill Falls. I believe early American artist used nature a source to tell story of a particular time in history and later becoming its own other worldly experience. When thinking of nature as a form to show case wealth and stature, nature takes a backseat. Nature is not the focal point in the painting nor does it have any major significance. Which is clearly noted in Fig 3.4, …show more content…
In Fig 4.23, we notice a theatrical backdrop framing the death of the general. We notice a stormy dark cloud amidst of covering the half of the canvas. The dark clouds are hovering over the fallen general giving us a sense of defeat. According to Zygmont, West took the liberty to enhance the overall composition by creating a “theatric clouds”, to create tension within the painting. Rather than dismissing nature, West is using the sky to convey an emotional response from the viewer. When I look back at the painting, I can’t help but feel as if a rain storm is upon the subjects in the painting but yet no one is fully aware because everyone in involved is engulfed with the general’s