Old Age in Art

A sweeping history of aging in European art across centuries.

Old Age in Art shows how elders have been depicted from ancient Greece and Rome to the present century. The book explores portraits, including self-portraits, and stories of older figures in religion, myth, and history, focusing on the theme of wisdom versus folly. Larry Silver also discusses the concept of old age within the Middle Ages and early modern periods. The final chapter examines how renowned artists like Michelangelo, Titian, and Monet turned to experimental forms and new subjects in their later years. This book provides a comprehensive overview of old age in European art history.

Larry Silver is the Farquhar Professor Emeritus of History of Art at the University of Pennsylvania. He has published numerous monographs and exhibition catalogs, including Rembrandt’s Holland, also published by Reaktion Books.