Thomas Cole Main House
CATSKILL – The National Endowment for the Humanities has approved
a $460,000 grant for the home of famed landscape artist and founder of
the Hudson River School, Thomas Cole. The historic site, in the Village
of Catskill, recently discovered that Cole had painted decorative friezes
in two of the rooms in his home around 1836, which were believed painted
over by common wall paint around 1900.
The paintings were uncovered when efforts were made to restore the rooms
and their original color revealed the hidden treasures.
As a result, the site applied for two federal grants to determine if other
murals could be uncovered and restored.
“The discovery of the Cole’s murals was a historic moment
for Upstate New York and all American Culture,” said Senator Charles
Schumer, who sought the grant. “Now, we have 75 percent of the funding
critical to make these restorations possible – and I will continue
to push for the remainder of the funds needed to uncover these treasurers
and ensure they can be enjoyed by all who visit the site for generations
to come.”
