Thomas Cole's The Course of Empire.pptx
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In this 5-painting series done over two years, Thomas Cole shows the beginning of a civilization from a rugged natural state to its early blossoming, to becoming a full society, followed by its downfall, and nature once again taking over. It is notable in part for reflecting 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.
