The Life & Age of Man

PrinterPrinted by Kelloggs & Comstock American, 1848 - 1850

PublisherPublished by Kelloggs & Comstock American, 1848 - 1850

PublisherPublished by D. Needham American, 1808 - 1888

Date1848-1850

MediumLithography; printer's ink and watercolor on wove paper

DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (image height x width): 8 15/16 x 12 15/16in. (22.7 x 32.9cm)
Sheet (height x width): 9 1/2 x 13 5/16in. (24.1 x 33.8cm)

ClassificationsGraphics

Credit LineMuseum purchase

DescriptionEleven figures of boys and men are posed on a tiered pedestal. At the far left, a seated woman holds an infant. On the next step is a small boy wearing a cap, jacket, and trousers and holding a hoop and stick. On the third step is a young man wearing a fancy vest, coat, top hat, and trousers and holding a watch. On the fourth step is a soldier in military uniform. On the fifth step is a soldier holding a flag and brandishing a sword. On the top step is a middle-aged man wearing a frock coat and top hat. On the first descending step at the right, an older man wearing an overcoat holds a walking stick. On the next descending step, the man appears older and more stooped. He holds his coat together with his left hand and leans on his cane. On the next descending step, he reaches forward with both hands. On the final descending step, he appears as an extremely bent and aged man, leaning heavily on his cane. At the far right, an extremely old man sits hunched in a chair, attended by a young woman. Vignettes beneath this primary images show a goat, a heifer, a bull, a lion, a fox, a wolf, a dog, a cat, and an ass. A sturdy deciduous tree is at the upper left; a dead and leafless tree is at the upper right. In a vignette beneath the arched subtitle, three young men are seated at a table out of doors. A bottle is on the table, and they appear to be drinking a toast. A man and a woman stand together at the left.

Object number1970.44.3

InscribedOn recto, lithographed title and alternate title, in lower portion of image, "THE / LIFE & AGE / OF / MAN" - "STAGES OF MAN'S LIFE FROM THE CRADLE TO THE GRAVE." Lower center, lithographed within image, "Resist the Devil and he will flee from you". Lithographed poem in eleven columns beneath image, "Until the first five / years be spent / A child is Lamb like / innocent." - "At ten he Goat like / skips and joys / in idle play and / foolish toys." - "At twenty love doth / swell his veins / and Heifer like / untamed remains." - "With Bull like strength / to smite his foes / at thirty to the field he goes." - "At forty nought / his courage quails / but Lion like by / force prevails." - "Strength fails at fifty / but with wit / Fox like he helps / to manage it." - "At sixty rapine, fraud, / and stealthy ways, / Wolf like he tries / his wealth to raise." - "At seventy news he'll / hear and tell / but Dog like loves / at home to dwell." - "The Cat keeps house / and loves the fire / at eighty we the / same desire." - "Weak Asses backs / were made to bear / at ninety we must / suffer everywhere" - "But should we reach / the hundredth year / Tho' sick of life / the grave we fear." Lower center, lithographed beneath image, "131".

On verso, in pencil: upper left, "73161 [crossed out in ink]" "DWR 45" and accession number; lower right, "Consv. CPC 11/86". Upper left, in pen, accession number.

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