Desolation | Thomas Cole | 1836 Square the work testifies to this

the work testifies to this dark context

engaged in playful and amorous interactions

The three faces are merged into one head

cloudless sky

The sky is filled with swirling clouds and flashes of lightning

Desolation | Thomas Cole | 1836 Square the work testifies to thisAbout the artwork: Thomas Cole's "The Course of Empire" is a five part series of paintings created between 1833 and 1836, depicting the rise and fall of an imaginary empire. The series traces the cyclical nature of civilization, beginning with "The Savage State," where nature is untamed and humanity is in its infancy. This is followed by "The Arcadian or Pastoral State," illustrating the harmony between humans and nature, and then "The Consummation of