Fine Canvas Art Blog

The Course of Empire, Desolation, Thomas Cole

American / Landscape / Paintings (Reproductions) / Romanticism - 1 year ago - troycapc

This is a reproduction of the fifth of Thomas Cole’s five part series, “The Course of Empire”.  This fifth painting, “Desolation” depicts a landscape in which the capital of empire lies desolated in the aftermath of its violent destruction.  As daylight fades, the landscape is shown in the process of returning to wilderness.  Ruins lie broken in the vegatation as a pale moon rises over the sea.  The boulder-topped mountain is still visible from the earlier paintings and the moonrise provides a juxtaposition to the rising sun of the first painting.  The original canvas is 63.5 inches wide and 39.5 inches high and is in the New York Historical Society.

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The Course of Empire, Destruction, Thomas Cole

American / Greco-Roman / Landscape / Neoclassical / Paintings (Reproductions) - 1 year ago - troycapc

This is a reproduction of the fourth of Thomas Cole’s five part series, “The Course of Empire”.  This fourth painting, “Destruction” depicts a landscape in which capital of empire is being destroyed.  Raiders have apparently entered the city from an invasion fleet.  They are ravaging the inhabitants of the city and have destroyed the major river bridge.  There is a headless statue in the foreground and, of course, the boulder-topped mountain is still visible from the earlier paintings.  The sea raiders may have been inspired by the Vandal sack of Rome in 455.  The original canvas is 63.5 inches wide and 39.5 inches high and is in the New York Historical Society.

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The Course of Empire, Consummation, Thomas Cole

American / Landscape / Paintings (Reproductions) - 1 year ago - troycapc

This is a reproduction of the third of Thomas Cole’s five part series, “The Course of Empire”.  This third painting, “The Consummation of Empire” depicts a landscape in which the pinnacle of imperial achievement has been gained.  The structures are obviously inspired by imperial Rome, yet the iconic boulder-topped mountain is still visible from the earlier paintings. The setting is an imaginary geography identifiable in each painting by a small mountain topped with an iconic boulder.  The original canvas is 76 inches wide and 51 inches high and is in the New York Historical Society.

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The Course of Empire, The Arcadian or Pastoral State, Thomas Cole

American / Landscape / Paintings (Reproductions) - 1 year ago - troycapc

This is a reproduction of the second of Thomas Cole’s five part series, “The Course of Empire”.  This second painting, “The Arcadian or Pastoral State” depicts a landscape in which pastoralism predominates with a structure reminiscent of Stonehenge in the center of the painting.  Cole was reflecting the popular American belief that pastoralism, the agriculturally based state, was preferable to the imperial states of Europe and Asia.  The setting is an imaginary geography identifiable in each painting by a small mountain topped with an iconic boulder.  The original canvas is 160 cm wide and 100 cm high and is in the New York Historical Society.

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The Course of Empire, The Savage State, Thomas Cole

American / Landscape / Neoclassical / Paintings (Reproductions) - 1 year ago - troycapc

This is a reproduction of the first of Thomas Cole’s five part series, “The Course of Empire”.  This first painting, “The Savage State” depicts a landscape devoid of the structures of civilization.  Cole was reflecting the popular American belief that pastoralism, the agriculturally based state, was preferable to the imperial states of Europe and Asia.  The setting is an imaginary geography identifiable in each painting by a small mountain topped with an iconic boulder.  In this first scene there is a barbaric encampment at the extreme right of the viewer.  The original canvas is 160 cm wide and 100 cm high and is in the New York Historical Society.

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