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Notes
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Title
The Seven Ages of Man
Date
1980
Medium
cold cast aluminium & brick
Measurements
H 500 x W (?) x D (?) cm;
Plinth: H 110 x W 200 x D 200 cm
Accession number
EC4V_AY_S058
Acquisition method
Post Office Communications
Work type
Sculpture
Owner
City of London Corporation
Custodian
City of London Corporation
Work status
extant
Unveiling date
23rd April 1980
Access
at all times
Inscription description
on plaque adjacent to the wall: THIS SCULPTURE / COMMISSIONED BY POST OFFICE COMMUNICATIONS / AND CREATED BY RICHARD KINDERSLEY AFTER INSPIRATION / FROM SHAKESPEARE'S SEVEN AGES OF MAN / WAS UNVEILED BY LORD MILES OF BLACKFRIARS / ON 23RD APRIL 1980; on the base of the sculpture: AT FIRST THE INFANT- MEWING AND PUKING IN THE NURSES ARMS / AND THEN THE WHINING SCHOOL-BOY WITH HIS SATCHEL AND SHINING MORNING PACE CREEPING LIKE SNAIL UNWILLINGLY TO SCHOOL / AND THEN THE LOVER SIGHING LIKE FURNACE WITH A WOEFUL BALLAD MADE TO HIS MISTRESS' EYEBROW / THEN A SOLDIER FULL OF STRANGE OATHS AND BEARDED LIKE THE PARD JEALOUS IN HONOUR SUDDEN AND QUICK IN QUARREL SEEKING THE BUBBLE REPUTATION EVEN IN THE CANNON'S MOUTH / AND THEN THE JUSTICE IN FAIR ROUND BELL / WITH GOOG CAPON LIN'D WITH EYE SEVERE AND BEARD OF FORMAL CUT FULL OF WISE SAUS (sic) AND MODERN INSTANCE: AND HE PLAYS HIS PART / THE SIXTH AGE SHIFT INTO THE LEAN AND STUPPER'D PANTALOON WITH SPECTACLE ON NOSE AND POUCH ON SIDE HIS YOUTHFUL HOSE WELL SAV'D A WORLD TOO WIDE FOR HIS SHRUNK SHANK AND HIS BIG MANLY VOICE TURNING AGAIN TOWARDS CHILDISH TREBLE PIPES AND WHISTLE IN HIS SOUND / LAST SCENE OF ALL THAT ENDS THIS STRANGE EVENTFUL HISTORY IS SECOND CHILDNESS AND MERE OBLIVION SANS TEETH SANS EYES SANS TASTE SANS EVERYTHING
