Allegory on the Life of Man

Beaumont’s contribution to the painting of the Palazzo Reale includes four living rooms and two galleries. In the Gabinetto Grande (the present Camera di Lavoro della Regina) the centre picture on the ceiling is a personification of Vita Humana (Life of Man) in the form of a young woman holding an hourglass in her hand. She is leaning on a scythe-wielding Chronos and Fama is pointing out to her the goal of human striving, Eternità Felice. Four groupings represent the four ages of man.