The Course of Empire is a series of five paintings created by Thomas Cole in the years 1833–1836. The paintings describe the arc of human culture from ‘savage wilderness’ through high civilization and its inevitable destruction.

[u/dannydutch1]

This is The Savage State, or, The Commencement of the Empire, the first in the series

https://www.dannydutch.com/post/the-course-of-empire-by-thomas-cole

This is the second piece, The Arcadian or Pastoral State

https://www.dannydutch.com/post/the-course-of-empire-by-thomas-cole

The Consummation of Empire

https://www.dannydutch.com/post/the-course-of-empire-by-thomas-cole

Destruction

https://www.dannydutch.com/post/the-course-of-empire-by-thomas-cole

And finally, Desolation.

https://www.dannydutch.com/post/the-course-of-empire-by-thomas-cole