The Course of Empire, a series of painting by Thomas Cole,

[raccoon]

a nineteenth century American artist.

http://www.swarthmore.edu/Humanities/kjohnso1/colecourse.html

The paintings seem especially timely these days.

[leveymg]

1. Incredibly prescient. Must see. K&R

Thank you for linking this!

[Jara sang]

2. Reminds me of these paints in the LOC:

http://www.loc.gov/loc/lcib/0002/biback.html

Government and democracy also are represented in the Jefferson Building, but not as abundantly as the themes of civilization or knowledge. The principal example, Elihu Vedder's series of five paintings titled Government is centrally placed, however, just outside the entrance to the Main Reading Room. In his 1897 guide to the building, Herbert Small explains that the five panels (Government in the center, Corrupt Legislation and Anarchy on the left, Good Administration and Peace and Prosperity on the right) "represent the abstract conception of a republic as the ideal state, ideally presented."

[lumpy]

3. Civilizations come and they go.

It is the history of mankind; but the Earth abides.

[KoKo]

4. I remember seeing those paintings when they were on loan years ago..

Standing in front of them it was hard to take in all the detail...I stood so long the museum guard approached me...

They are powerful paintings and left me with a great sadness.

Thanks for the post.... In these dark times perhaps the "will of the people" can stall off what these painting portray for awhile more. :-(