POUSSIN, Nicolas
(b. 1594, Les Andelys, d. 1665, Roma)

Dance to the Music of Time

c. 1638
Oil on canvas, 83 x 104 cm
Wallace Collection, London

The painting was commissioned by Cardinal Giulio Rospigliosi who probably devised the subject: Poverty, Labour, Wealth and Pleasure dance an eternal round to the music of Time.

Even if the Poussin's depiction of human life dancing a roundelay to the music of time takes up an age-old idea, the subject may have been suggested to him by Giulio Rospigliosi, who commissioned the painting.