TFSmith121
Banned
The Course of Empire are five thematically connected paintings by Thomas Cole, an American painter in the early Nineteenth Century seen as one of the founders of the Hudson River School of grand landscapes; it reflects a view of history that was very prevalent in his era (ref. Gibbon and Von Ranke) and offers what one could suggest is "alternate history" in an allegorical sense. As Cole wrote of his idea:
The Savage Age
The Pastoral Age
Consumation
Destruction
Desolation
Cyclical history and the rise and fall of empires is a trope in its own right, but just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they aren't out to get you...
Having said that, I presume some people have seen this, but others have not, and may find it an interesting thought exercise to try and come up with an AH take to take advantage of the paintings. See below for all five:
http://www.explorethomascole.org/tour/items/69/series/
Best, and Happy New Year
A series of pictures might be painted that should illustrate the History of a natural scene, as well as be an Epitome of Man—showing the natural changes of Landscape & those effected by man in his progress from Barbarism to Civilization, to Luxury, the Vicious state or state of destruction and to the state of Ruin & Desolation.
The philosophy of my subject is drawn from the history of the past, wherein we see how nations have risen from the Savage state to that of Power & Glory & then fallen & become extinct...
The paintings (created as part of a single commission) include:The Savage Age
The Pastoral Age
Consumation
Destruction
Desolation
Cyclical history and the rise and fall of empires is a trope in its own right, but just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they aren't out to get you...
Having said that, I presume some people have seen this, but others have not, and may find it an interesting thought exercise to try and come up with an AH take to take advantage of the paintings. See below for all five:
http://www.explorethomascole.org/tour/items/69/series/
Best, and Happy New Year