Although this painting’s artist wrote that “the ravages of the axe are daily increasing,” the full title indicates that the broken trees in this painting were split by nature. Matthew Baigell notes that when viewed “from God’s perspective,” (15[1])shapes in the background of this (15[1])painting (15[2])spell a Hebrew (15[1])word. (15[7]-5[1])In (-5[1])this painting’s (15[2])foreground, (15[1])a cross-shaped (15[1])chair, (-5[1])a flag, and a portfolio (15[1])with a signature sit above a small (*) self-portrait of the artist turning towards the viewer. (10[1])This painting’s peaceful setting (-5[1])may be based on one of its artist’s earlier works for Luman (10[1])Reed, (10[1])The Pastoral State. This landscape (-5[1])painting (-5[1])is often read as an allegory (10[1])for wilderness versus civilization due to a receding (-5[1])thunderstorm on the (-5[1])left. (-5[1])For 10 points, (-5[1])name this Hudson River School (-5[1])painting (10[2])of the sharply (-5[1])winding (10[2]-5[1])Connecticut (10[1])River (10[4])by (10[1])Thomas (10[1])Cole. (10[3])■END■ (10[12]0[10])