I've mentioned before that getting old is not a subject to relish but something I have to learn to live with!
This week, thanks to a former colleague sharing an image of a picture presently in the collections of the National Gallery in London, I've had cause to reflect on this thorny issue yet again. I don't remember seeing the picture myself - probably because it's rarely on show - but no matter - there's a truth to be told in viewing it which I think is worth sharing.
The painting was done in the middle of the 18th century by renowned Italian artist Pompeo Batoni (1708-1787) who specialized in portraits. He's famous for painting full length pictures of English gentlemen grand tourists - suitably framed with a background of classical ruins. Such works were commissioned by them whilst they were in Italy and acted as souvenirs of their trips - often taking pride of place in their grand houses back home. Like many portrait painters however, Batoni also liked to do "history paintings" with subjects taken from the bible or classical mythology and why should this be the case one might ask? Well - in the 18th century history paintings were considered to be at the top of the hierarchy; an opportunity for an artist to deal with grandiose subject matter concerned with the essence of the human condition. Pictures that expressed universal truths about the nature of being human were highly valued by the intelligentsia and its not surprising that today such "old master paintings" are found in museum and gallery collections round the world.
The picture I want to show today is just such a history painting and entitled TIME ORDERS OLD AGE TO DESTROY BEAUTY. It was commissioned from the artist by collector Bartolomeo Talenti in 1744 and it's signed and dated on the rock on the right - "PB 1746".
In the dramatic composition "Time", represented by the figure of a bearded winged man holding an hour glass, has ordered "Old Age" (the elderly haggard crone) to destroy and take away the good looks of "Beauty" personified in the face and body of the young woman on the left. The crone reaches out a hand to claw her face.
Looking at this painting one is reminded of the universal truth or cliche that "time waiteth for no man". No matter what we do or how we live - ultimately the hour glasses will run out for us all. Inevitably, in the process of the sand running through the glass, ageing will also claim our youthful looks and appearances through wastage and decay. Looking at this arresting image has made me reflect on not only my own mortality but on the process of getting old most of us go through. Yes - there is an inevitability about the ageing process, but the old adage of "three score years and ten" seems a bit outdated these days. People talk of 60 being the new 50 as life expectancy in Britain increases. Can we make the passage of time, the sand running through the glass, happen more slowly?? Does a positive attitude, going to the gym three times a week, a healthy diet and abstinence from the vices of drinking and smoking slow down the passage of the sand grains through our own personal hour glasses? There are many who would say that leading such a lifestyle will arrest the wrinkles and banish the old crone to the shadows,might but others might argue what is the point of postponing the inevitable when "living for the day" and doing what floats one's boat is the best strategy to adopt. And me, (as I suspect is true for many) - well I try to subscribe to a bit of both really. Taking each day as it comes and enjoying it the full is important, but with a nod and a wink to the importance of exercise and reasonably healthy eating. One thing's for sure though - one day that personal hour glass will run out and I think the best thing to do is GET ON WITH IT and not to watch it doing its work too closely!!
This week, thanks to a former colleague sharing an image of a picture presently in the collections of the National Gallery in London, I've had cause to reflect on this thorny issue yet again. I don't remember seeing the picture myself - probably because it's rarely on show - but no matter - there's a truth to be told in viewing it which I think is worth sharing.
The painting was done in the middle of the 18th century by renowned Italian artist Pompeo Batoni (1708-1787) who specialized in portraits. He's famous for painting full length pictures of English gentlemen grand tourists - suitably framed with a background of classical ruins. Such works were commissioned by them whilst they were in Italy and acted as souvenirs of their trips - often taking pride of place in their grand houses back home. Like many portrait painters however, Batoni also liked to do "history paintings" with subjects taken from the bible or classical mythology and why should this be the case one might ask? Well - in the 18th century history paintings were considered to be at the top of the hierarchy; an opportunity for an artist to deal with grandiose subject matter concerned with the essence of the human condition. Pictures that expressed universal truths about the nature of being human were highly valued by the intelligentsia and its not surprising that today such "old master paintings" are found in museum and gallery collections round the world.
The picture I want to show today is just such a history painting and entitled TIME ORDERS OLD AGE TO DESTROY BEAUTY. It was commissioned from the artist by collector Bartolomeo Talenti in 1744 and it's signed and dated on the rock on the right - "PB 1746".
In the dramatic composition "Time", represented by the figure of a bearded winged man holding an hour glass, has ordered "Old Age" (the elderly haggard crone) to destroy and take away the good looks of "Beauty" personified in the face and body of the young woman on the left. The crone reaches out a hand to claw her face.
Looking at this painting one is reminded of the universal truth or cliche that "time waiteth for no man". No matter what we do or how we live - ultimately the hour glasses will run out for us all. Inevitably, in the process of the sand running through the glass, ageing will also claim our youthful looks and appearances through wastage and decay. Looking at this arresting image has made me reflect on not only my own mortality but on the process of getting old most of us go through. Yes - there is an inevitability about the ageing process, but the old adage of "three score years and ten" seems a bit outdated these days. People talk of 60 being the new 50 as life expectancy in Britain increases. Can we make the passage of time, the sand running through the glass, happen more slowly?? Does a positive attitude, going to the gym three times a week, a healthy diet and abstinence from the vices of drinking and smoking slow down the passage of the sand grains through our own personal hour glasses? There are many who would say that leading such a lifestyle will arrest the wrinkles and banish the old crone to the shadows,might but others might argue what is the point of postponing the inevitable when "living for the day" and doing what floats one's boat is the best strategy to adopt. And me, (as I suspect is true for many) - well I try to subscribe to a bit of both really. Taking each day as it comes and enjoying it the full is important, but with a nod and a wink to the importance of exercise and reasonably healthy eating. One thing's for sure though - one day that personal hour glass will run out and I think the best thing to do is GET ON WITH IT and not to watch it doing its work too closely!!
