The Oxbow from Mt. Holyoke

This view was painted in 1836 by Thomas Cole (1801-1848), often regarded as the founder of the Hudson River School of American painters.

The full title of the painting is View from Mount Holyoke, Northampton, Massachusetts, after a Thunderstorm, commonly known as "The Oxbow". It is in the Metropolitan Museum in New York--probably Cole's most important work.

"The Oxbow" of course refers to the curved section which had been cut off from the main body of the Connecticut River by its meanderings. "Mount" Holyoke is modest by most standards (just 942 feet/ 287 meters), but it commands an broad view of much of the Pioneer Valley running north-south in central Massachusetts. Despite the painting's title, the mountain--which gave nearby Mt. Holyoke College its name--is in both Hadley and South Hadley.

A note for birders: While just below the summit I both heard and briefly saw a male Cerulean Warbler for the first time this year--follow the link for more. (With our moves, etc. we have done practically no birding this spring--so this was exciting!)

Year ago: Bumperstickers!