The Consummation of Empire by Thomas Cole Canvas"The Consummation of Empire" is the third painting in Thomas Cole's five part series "The Course of Empire," which vividly portrays the rise and fall of a fictional civilization. Created between 1833 and 1836, this series reflects Cole's musings on the cyclical nature of history, particularly the growth, zenith, and eventual decay of empires. "The Consummation of Empire" showcases the peak of the civilization's grandeur, depicted through a bustling