The Golden Age
1788
oil
canvas
From the collection of Tate
About the artist
1788
oil
canvas
From the collection of Tate
Dominant colour
The Golden Age is a 1788 oil by Benjamin West, a Neoclassicism work, held at Tate.
This painting depicts a woman in a white dress and head covering, sitting with her hands clasped together. She is surrounded by a sleeping baby, a basket, and a painting of an older couple. The woman's attire and the baby's presence suggest a domestic scene. The painting within the painting adds depth to the composition. The use of chiaroscuro, a technique that emphasizes contrasts between light and dark, creates a sense of drama in the scene. To learn more about this technique, look up chiaroscuro.
