The Voyage of Life by Thomas Cole

ARTK12’s Webmaster with The Voyage of Life: Childhood by Thomas Cole at the National Art Gallery in Washington D.C.

Thomas Cole tackled the journey of civilizations in his five paintings The Course of Empire. In this series of paintings, The Voyage of Life, Cole illustrates the individual life in four stages. 

Cole depicts the journey as one progresses from Childhood, to Youth, to Manhood and finally, to Old Age.

The four paintings are currently in the National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C.

Thomas Cole and his two paintings, Sunny Morning on the Hudson River and The Ox Bow River will be covered in ARTK12’s American Art History Volume II….until then, enjoy The Voyage of Life below.

• Gallery Image: The Voyage of Life: Childhood by Thomas Cole

  Childhood

• Gallery Image: The Voyage of Life: Youth by Thomas Cole

  Youth

• Gallery Image: The Voyage of Life: Manhood by Thomas Cole

  Manhood

• Gallery Image: The Voyage of Life: Old Age by Thomas Cole

  Old Age

• Gallery Image: Detail from The Voyage of Life: Childhood by Thomas Cole

  Detail: Childhoold