Female life ladder
From the collection of Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam. Free to download, adapt and use — no permission needed.
Life ladder on which women are depicted in nine different stages of life: from infant to very old age. Under each step of the ladder, below the human figure, a bird is depicted symbolizing the respective life stage: a chick for the infant, a peacock for the young woman, a mother hen for the young mother, a parrot for the elderly woman, and finally a goose for the oldest female figure. In the upper left corner Christ is depicted, enthroned in the clouds and surrounded by angels. In the upper right corner Satan sits surrounded by devils. In the center, below the ladder, Death is depicted. To his left a naked young woman is taken by an angel and led to heaven to Christ, and to his right an old woman is taken by a devil to Satan.
Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam’s own descriptionSimilar works
Male Life Model
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