Title

Ages of Man

Author

Dyck, Anthony van [attributed to]

Antwerp, 1599 - London, 1641

Typology

School

Century

Dimensions

Technique

Support

Observations

The Ages of Man is an oil on canvas attributed to Anthony van Dyck, belonging to a private collection in Malaga since 1985. This painting depicts, from left to right, four half-length figures symbolizing the three ages of life. The striking color palette, frequently seen in Van Dyck's Italian works, distinguishes this version from other representations of the Ages of Man, particularly the more subdued version housed at the Musei Civici in Vicenza. Stylistically, however, this version resembles the version at the Musei Civici in Vicenza, although its execution is looser and reflects a Titianesque influence.

Van Dyck created several versions of this theme. A very similar composition is also conserved in Spain, in the collections of the Patrimonio Nacional (Palacio de Riofrío, inv. 100025623). Another partial version, featuring the young woman and the sleeping child, was mistaken for a Madonna and Child when it was auctioned at Sotheby's (June 11, 1980, no. 29), later identified as Venus and Cupid and attributed to Theodor Boeyermans at Christie's three years later (July 22, 1983, no. 164).

The current version was initially known through a photograph in the Archivo Moreno (IPCE Archivo Moreno 04642_C). A penciled annotation suggested its possible location in a Jesuit residence, or part of the Collection Castellanos. In 1976, it was classified among the works attributed to Van Dyck. Years later, a direct examination of the painting provided stronger evidence linking it to a work mentioned in 1689 in the collection of the 7th Marquis of Carpio, Don Gaspar de Haro, where it was described in detail, and previously in 1653 in the inventory of the Count of Monterrey. After this date, the work was only mentioned again in 1868 in the collection of the Dukes of Pastrana, under the title “The Four Ages”. This connection with the Dukes of Pastrana supports the hypothesis of its passage through the Jesuit residence in Madrid, donated by the Pastrana family in 1889. An old photograph preserved at the University of Seville also attests to this version, though its precise current location remains unknown. (Díaz Padrón 2012, p. 458-461)

Related links

Bibliography

• M. Díaz Padrón (2012): Van Dyck en España, vol. II, Prensa Ibérica, Madrid, pp. 458-461, il. cat. 52.

Locations

• 1653: Collection Manuel de Acevedo y Zúñiga, VI count of Monterrey (Inventory number: 79)
• 1689: Collection Gaspar Méndez de Haro y Guzmán, VII marquis of Carpio, Madrid (Spain) (Inventory number: 314)
• 1868 - 1907: Collection of the Dukes of Pastrana, Madrid
• Colección Castellanos, Madrid (Spain)
• 1985: Private Collection, Malaga