The Four Ages of Man: Childhood

Children play within a loggia, pulling along a girl on a toy cart, while a nurse who holds an infant looks on. This is the first of a series of four canvases by Lancret (all in the Collection) which represent the Four Ages of Man - 'Childhood', 'Youth', 'Maturity', and 'Old Age'. The series, was engraved by Nicolas de Larmessin III; these engravings were announced as issued in July 1735, and it may be assumed that the pictures were painted not long before.