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The Twelve Ages of a Man: The Second Three Ages (18-36), or Autumn

Designer Probably after a design by the Workshop of Bernard van Orley Netherlandish
ca. 1515
Not on view
This is the third in a set of four tapestries illustrating the life of a man as divided into twelve periods of six years. Bacchus, in the center, stands for the autumn of life; the symbols and occupations of three months, July, August, and September, represent the years from ages 36 to 54. The stories show the centaur Chiron sharing his knowledge by teaching medicine to the young Aesculapius; Joseph directing the gathering of the harvest in anticipation of the lean years to come; and Hercules gathering the golden apples of the Hesperides, the last of his twelve labors.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: The Twelve Ages of a Man: The Second Three Ages (18-36), or Autumn
  • Designer: Probably after a design by the Workshop of Bernard van Orley (Netherlandish, Brussels ca. 1492–1541/42 Brussels)
  • Date: ca. 1515
  • Culture: Netherlandish, Brussels
  • Medium: Wool, silk (16-20 warps per inch, 6-8 per cm.)
  • Dimensions: H. 175 x W. 286 inches (444.5 x 726.4 cm)
  • Classification: Textiles-Tapestries
  • Credit Line: Gift of The Hearst Foundation, in memory of William Randolph Hearst, 1953
  • Object Number: 53.221.3
  • Curatorial Department: European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

More Artwork

More Artwork
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The Final Assault on the Boar, or December from a set of the Hunts of Maximilian, Bernard van Orley , probably Netherlandish, Wool, silk (19-21 warps per inch, 8-9 per cm.), French, Paris
The Final Assault on the Boar, or December from a set of the Hunts of Maximilian
Multiple artists/makers
designed ca. 1531, woven 1692–93
Adoration of the Kings, Bernard van Orley or a member of his workshop Netherlandish, Wool, silk, silver, silver-gilt thread (20 warps per inch, 8 per cm.), Netherlandish, Brussels
Adoration of the Kings
Multiple artists/makers
1525–1535
August from a set of Medallion Months, Bernard van Orley Netherlandish, Wool, silk (20 warps per inch, 8 per cm.), Netherlandish, Brussels
August from a set of Medallion Months
Bernard van Orley
ca. 1525–28
The Twelve Ages of a Man: The First Three Ages (Birth-18), or Spring, Bernard van Orley Netherlandish, Wool, silk (16-20 warps per inch, 6-8 per cm.), Netherlandish, Brussels
The Twelve Ages of a Man: The First Three Ages (Birth-18), or Spring
Bernard van Orley
ca. 1515
The Crucifixion, Bernard van Orley Netherlandish, Wool, silk, silver thread, silver-gilt thread (20-21 warps per inch, 7-8 per cm.), Netherlandish, Brussels
The Crucifixion
Multiple artists/makers
design ca. 1515, woven ca. 1525

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