Thomas Cole was commissioned to paint 'The Voyage of Life' series for Samuel Ward after the success of his 'The Course of Empire' series. Although the latter launched Cole as a mature artist, 'The Voyage of Life' served as the creative cap to his art career.
In March 1839, following the success of his great series The Course of Empire (1834-1836; in the New-York Historical Society, New York City), Thomas Cole received his next important commission: to paint The Voyage of Life for Samuel ...