The Seven Ages of Man (painting series)

The Seven Ages of Man is a series of paintings by Robert Smirke, derived from the famous monologue beginning all the world's a stage from William Shakespeare's As You Like It, spoken by the melancholy Jaques in Act II Scene VII.

[8] They were produced for the Boydell Shakespeare Gallery,[9][10] and engravings by Peltro William Tomkins, John Ogborne, Robert Thew, Peter Simon the Younger and William Satchwell Leney based on Smirke's paintings were included in the gallery's folio edition of Shakespeare's work.

Then, the whining school-boy with his satchel And shining morning face, creeping like snail Unwillingly to school.

Then, a soldier, Full of strange oaths, and bearded like the pard, Jealous in honour, sudden, and quick in quarrel, Seeking the bubble reputation Even in the cannon's mouth.

And then, the justice, In fair round belly, with a good capon lined, With eyes severe, and beard of formal cut, Full of wise saws, and modern instances, And so he plays his part.

The sixth age shifts Into the lean and slippered pantaloon, With spectacles on nose and pouch on side, His youthful hose, well saved, a world too wide For his shrunk shank, and his big manly voice, Turning again toward childish treble, pipes And whistles in his sound.

The child in this stage, cares for its beloved the most and is quite concerned about it and is ready to sacrifice its life also to show its affection towards it.

[13] In this stage he is dependent on others for care and unable to interact with the world, he experiences "second innocence, and mere oblivion."