Final answer:
Thomas Cole's paintings appealed to the American public during the mid-19th century due to their depiction of untouched nature.
Step-by-step explanation:
The audience of Thomas Cole's paintings was primarily the American public during the mid-19th century. Cole was a landscape painter known for his depictions of the American wilderness, and his works appealed to the growing sense of national identity and pride during that time. His paintings often depicted scenes of untouched nature, which resonated with viewers who were living in an increasingly industrialized and urbanized society.
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