The Subsiding of the Waters of the Deluge

Thomas Cole, The Subsiding of the Waters of the Deluge, 1829, oil on canvas, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Mrs. Katie Dean in memory of Minnibel S. and James Wallace Dean and museum purchase through the Smithsonian Institution Collections Acquisition Program, 1983.40
Thomas Cole, The Subsiding of the Waters of the Deluge, 1829, oil on canvas, 35 3447 34 in. (90.8121.4 cm), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Mrs. Katie Dean in memory of Minnibel S. and James Wallace Dean and museum purchase through the Smithsonian Institution Collections Acquisition Program, 1983.40
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Artwork Details

Title
The Subsiding of the Waters of the Deluge
Artist
Date
1829
Dimensions
35 3447 34 in. (90.8121.4 cm)
Credit Line
Gift of Mrs. Katie Dean in memory of Minnibel S. and James Wallace Dean and museum purchase through the Smithsonian Institution Collections Acquisition Program
Mediums
Mediums Description
oil on canvas
Classifications
Subjects
  • Disaster — flood
  • Religion — Old Testament — Noah
  • Figure — fragment — skull
  • Architecture — boat — Noah’s Ark
  • Landscape — mountain
Object Number
1983.40

Artwork Description

Thomas Cole envisioned America as a new start for civilization.In his mind, the American Revolution was like the biblical story of the Great Flood, sweeping away the despotism of the British Crown.In this painting the waters from that Flood subside, suggesting a peaceful future for the young republic.A lone skull resting against the rocks suggests that the world has been washed clean of human folly. At the center of the painting, bathed in light, a dove flies toward land as the ark floats on the calm waters, ready to usher in a new and more enlightened era in America.

Works by this artist (57 items)

William Page, Portrait of a Young Man, ca. 1830-1835, oil on canvas, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution, 1972.151.1
Portrait of a Young Man
Dateca. 1830-1835
oil on canvas
On view
William Page, Nude Boy Playing a Flute, n.d., pencil on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Pauline Page Howell, 1973.183.18
Nude Boy Playing a Flute
Daten.d.
pencil on paper
Not on view
W. Kurtz, William Page, Shakespeare Reading, 1874-1875, photograph, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of William Page Howell, 1979.135.42
Shakespeare Reading
Artist
Date1874-1875
photograph
Not on view
William Page, Standing Discus Thrower (Vatican no. 615), front view, ca. 1849-1853, pencil on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Pauline Page Howell, 1973.183.38
Standing Discus Thrower (Vatican no. 615), front view
Dateca. 1849-1853
pencil on paper
Not on view

More Artworks from the Collection

George Catlin, Comanche Giving Arrows to the Medicine Rock, 1837-1839, oil on canvas, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Mrs. Joseph Harrison, Jr., 1985.66.472
Comanche Giving Arrows to the Medicine Rock
Date1837-1839
oil on canvas
Not on view
William Holbrook Beard, The Runaway Match, 1877, oil on canvas, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase, 1977.55
The Runaway Match
Date1877
oil on canvas
Not on view