Memory: The Seven Ages of Man

 

The Kauffmann Memorial in Rock Creek Cemetery.

This 1897 memorial by William Ordway Partridge marks the Kauffman family lot. It depicts “Memory” in the form of a classically draped female figure contemplating the seven ages, or stages, of man.

We begin in Infancy:

As Shakespeare's Jaques says in As You Like It: “At first the infant, mewling and puking in the nurse’s arms;”

Followed closely by Childhood:

Followed by Love. Jaques describes “the lover, Sighing like furnace, with a woeful ballad made to his mistress’ eyebrow.”

And Soldiery.  “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.”

Fatherhood:

And Judgement: “And then the justice, in fair round belly with good capon lin’d, with eyes severe and beard of formal cut, full of wise saws and modern instances; and so he plays his part.”

Ending in Death:

The Kauffmann Memorial can be found in Section B, Lot 88, Site 6 in Rock Creek Cemetery. That's: 38.94840853967434, -77.01159465166704.