The Four Ages of Man: Youth

In the foreground stand two archers, one of whom shoots at an unseen target on top of the pole. Behind them are men and women engaged in amorous pursuits. Such encounters in wooded settings, as shown at left and in the background, had become a popular theme in art, inspired in particular by the paintings of Watteau and prints after them.This is the third in a series of four canvases by Lancret (all in the collection) which represent the Four Ages of Man - 'Childhood', ‘Adolescence’, 'Youth', and 'Old Age'.