Thomas Cole - The Course of Empire

Thomas Cole - The Course of Empire

For larger images visit this site: http://www.isu.edu/~wattron/OLCole2.html

Thomas Cole (1801-1948) The Course of Empire (1833-1836)

1. The Savage State
2. The Arcadian or Pastoral Stage
3. The Consummation of Empire
4. The Destruction of Empire
5. Desolation

Category:

Education

Tags:

• art
• history
• culture
• thomas
• cole
• empire
• economy
• collapse
• american
• romanticism
• romantic
• painting

[haleycole]

nice video, Thomas Cole is my 4th great grandfather!!

[StoriesAC]

@haleycole Thats so awesome! Small world! Cole is one of my all time favorite artists! Cole is legend! You have an immortal 4th great grandfather! : D

[paintedglyphs333]

Great commentating and wonderful insight. Thank you very much for this video!

[StoriesAC]

@paintedglyphs333 Thank you for your very nice comment!

[MythicSJK]

Great painter, great idea and great video. Thank you! 5/5

[StoriesAC]

@MythicSJK Thank you, thank you very much!

[haleycole]

@StoriesAC that is awesome!! :) thank you!!

[kh884488]

@diddlebu10600 - I think "Desolation" is very interesting. Other paintings contain Cole's signature in either large or small script. In the case of "Desolation" there is no signature to be seen. It is as if Cole's own signature is on the pillar in the foreground and the weeds of time have covered that up as well. Sic Transit Gloria Mundi (thus passes the glory of the world).

[kh884488]

@haleycole - It's very cool to hear from a Thomas Cole descendant! Several months ago, I did an offering time talk at my church about themes of the book Ecclesiastes that can be found in "The Course of Empire". Since he died at a reasonably young age, I wonder what his work would have been like had he lived longer.

[haleycole]

@StoriesAC hahahahah! thank you :) have you seen Cedar Grove?

[diddlebu10600]

if there is any work of art that moves me, its these paintings! they're so powerful and raw, especially the destruction painting! just amazing. but if i had to pick the most beautiful one it would be desolation, because its shows what the glorious city that fell looked like after nature took its coarse. just beautiful works of art.

[nugfairy]

Thomas Cole was always a favorite of mine since I first saw the paintings in the natinonal gallery when I was young. Great collection, I would love to see it someday!

[dcteddy225]

I just saw this collection today. Extremely impressive. Especially 'Consumation' and 'Destruction'. Huge canvas's with tiny detail. Incredible.

[PecheurdArt]

@StoriesAC So, it's not surprising. I' ve just made the link between these 2 painters, only by my little knowledge. If he has come in Europe, this explain the feeling i have about his artwork, and Poussin.

Thanks for this conversation, i've learned something. Perhaps culture is that !