The Course of Empire - Thomas Cole's series of paintings

The Course of Empire

The Course of Empire is a five-part series of paintings created by Thomas Cole in 1833-1836. It reflected popular American sentiments of the times when many saw pastoralism as the ideal phase of human civilization, fearing that empire would lead to gluttony and inevitable decay.
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The Savage State ~ 1834
New York Historical Society

The Arcadian or Pastoral State ~ 1834
New York Historical Society

The Consummation of Empire ~ 1835-1836
New York Historical Society

Destruction ~ 1835-1836
New York Historical Society

 

Desolation ~ 1836
New York Historical Society

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