Pompeo Batoni, 'Time orders Old Age to destroy Beauty', 1746. London, The National Gallery.

Personifications: Time

Artists needed to find a way to depict ideas and concepts - such as time, love, peace, charity. This could be achieved by painting a person with the characteristics of that idea. For example the idea of 'Time' is often depicted as an old man with wings, to show the idea of time flying. He sometimes holds an hourglass and a scythe with which to cut life short. A particular saying or more complicated allegory could be illustrated by bringing together a number of figures representing different ideas.

In this painting, 'Time orders Old Age to destroy Beauty', Time is recognisable as the seated, winged man holding an hourglass. He is pointing towards a beautiful young woman, who represents the idea of youthful Beauty, while a much older woman, (Old Age), claws at her face. By using personification in this way, artists were able to depict both the passing of time, and its effects.

See Also

• Domenico Tiepolo: 'An Allegory with Venus and Time'
• Bronzino: 'An Allegory with Venus and Cupid'
• Detroy: 'Time unveiling Truth'

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