The Consummation of Empire | Thomas Cole | 1836 William Degouve de Nuncques ghostly figures that seem to

ghostly figures that seem to heighten his terror

existential dread

created in 1875 during the artist's early Impressionist period

his works continue to evoke fascination and intrigue

The Consummation of Empire | Thomas Cole | 1836 William Degouve de Nuncques ghostly figures that seem toAbout 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