I discovered Thomas Cole today while stumbling around Wikimedia and I just think this particular image is very cool. I like his use of landscapes and ruins and he does an amazing job using more grounded objects such as trees, animals, and people to give really convey a sense of scale to everything.

It's really interesting to see how fantasy art has kind of evolved over the years, visually and thematically. Fanciful/realistic, lighthearted/grim, bright color palettes vs. moody color palettes. There's something fro everyone out there. Chances are, there's a ton of artists out there who are thankful for CCGs like Magic: The Gathering because it gives them not only a paycheck but some incredible exposure.

Edit: Just looked up Beirstadt. Woah.