Friday, October 03, 2008

The Course of Empire

The Course of Empire is a five-part series of paintings created by Thomas Cole in the years 1834-36. It is notable in part for reflecting popular American sentiments of the times, when many saw pastoralism as the ideal phase of human civilization, while fearing that empire would lead to gluttony and inevitable decay



Pt1. The Savage State


Pt2. The Arcadian or Pastoral State


Pt3. The Consummation of Empire


Pt4. The Destruction of Empire


Pt5. Desolation