Thomas Cole (1801-1848)

Thomas Cole was a prominent member of the Hudson River school of painters in the early 19th century. Cole immigrated to the United States in 1819 from England and was immediately impressed by the broad landscapes in the new world and their contrasts with the small town life he had known in England. He is most noted for his landscapes although I am most impressed by a pair of allegorical collections called "The Course of Empire" and "The Voyage of Life" which use strong symbolism to express his view of the nature of the aging of an individual and of a civilization.

Thomas Cole (1801-1848)

The Course of Empire

The Course of Empire: The Savage State (1836) (53K)

The Course of Empire: The Arcadian or Pastoral State (1836) (59K)

The Course of Empire: The Consummation of Empire (1836) (46K)

The Course of Empire: Destruction (1836) (72K)

The Course of Empire: Desolation (1836) (36K)

The Voyage of Life

The Voyage of Life: Childhood (41K)

The Voyage of Life: Youth (72K)

The Voyage of Life: Manhood (52K)

The Voyage of Life: Old Age (35K)

Other Works

Roman Campagna (42K)

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