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June 26, 2017

Thomas Cole (1801-1848),

Hagar and Ishmael in the Wilderness, 1840, oil on canvasboard, 24 3/4 x 32 1/2 inches. Brigham Young University Museum of Art, gift of Millard H. and Georgiana Duxbury, 1961.

This beautiful painting by Thomas Cole is one of the paintings that make up the BYU Museum of Art's religious collection. The subject matter is of the Biblical story of Hagar and Ishmael in the wilderness, in the act of being rescued by the Lord. Thomas Cole, an important figure in American painting, was well-known for his sumptuous landscape pieces. This painting showcases Cole's landscape abilities while introducing a Biblical subject.