Details
Creator Currier, Nathaniel, 1813-1888.
Title The life & age of man. Stages of man's life from the cradle to the grave. [graphic].
Publisher New York: Lith. & pub. by N. Currier, 152 Nassau St. cor. of Spruce St
Publisher N.Y. New York. 1847
Date [ca. 1847]
Physical Description 1 print: lithograph, hand-colored; 39 x 29 cm (11.5 x 15.5 in.)
Description Allegorical print containing a portrayal of a male figure aging from a baby to an older man on a pedestal of life. Includes rhymed couplets describing each age below the image corresponding to animal vignettes adorning the pedestal styled as up and down steps. Shows the figure, in the far left, as an infant as a "lamb like innocent" in the lap of his mother, her long dark hair loose down her back, and attired in a red dress; at the age of 10 with dark hair and attired in a blue pant suit and cap and holding a stick and hoop as he "goat like skips and joys"; at the age of 20 attired in a black top hat, black waistcoat, and blue striped pants when "love doth swell his veins and heifer like untamed remains"; at the age of 30 attired in a military uniform "with bull like strength he smites his foes"; at the age of 40 attired in a military uniform holding a sword and flag and "naught his courage quails but lion like by force prevails"; at the age of 50 with greying hair, attired in a black suit and top hat, and his "strength fails but with wit fox like he helps to manage it"; at the age of 60 with long white hair, attired in a black suit and top hat, and holding out a cane while "wolf like he tries his wealth to raise"; at the age of 70 with rounded shoulders and attired in a black long coat and top hat and cane in hand, "he'll hear and tell but dog like loves at home to dwell"; at the age of 80 slightly hunched and reaching out as "a cat keeps house and loves the fire" he has the same desire; at the age of 90, in the far right, severely hunched over and reliant on a cane that he must suffer everywhere as "weak asses backs were made to bare"; and at the age of 100, attired in a white night gown, seated in a chaise lounge, and tended by a young woman, attired in a red dress and holding a cup as "the sick of life the grave he fears."
Image also includes a tree in full leaf (left), a dead withered tree (right), and a vignette scene set in a tree-lined pasture behind a stone wall entitled "Resist the Devil and he will flee from you!" Scene shows bare-chested male figure attired in a loincloth and with their left hand up and right arm out between a couple, in the right, and a table of men drinking, in the left. A cross is seen in the distance behind the couple.
Notes Title from item.
Date inferred from dates publisher Nathaniel Currier operated as sole proprietor of his firm.
Printed on recto: 87.
Biographical / historical note Currier operated as a sole proprietor at 152 Nassau Street from 1838 to 1857 before partnering with Frederick Ives.
Subject Aging -- Social aspects.
Animals.
Boys.
Caregivers.
Courtship.
Eating & drinking.
Ethics.
Human life cycle.
Men.
Military service.
Mothers & children.
Older men.
Pedestals.
Play (Recreation).
Prosperity.
Trees.
Women.
Genre Lithographs -- Hand-colored -- 1840-1850.
Allegorical prints -- Hand-colored -- 1840-1850.
Location Library Company of Philadelphia| Print Department| *GC - Allegories [P.2004.14.1]
Accession number P.2004.14.1

In Collections