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Georg Pencz

The Triumph of Time, plate four from The Triumphs of Petrarch

c. 1539
Engraving in black on ivory laid paper
15.1 × 21 cm (5.9 × 8.3 in)

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In the collection of Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago · as of July 2026

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FROM THE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO’S CATALOG

Barely upright, swaying on crutches as he is paraded forward, Pencz’s figure of Time clearly suffers from the ill effects of aging: the hourglass is running out, and the wheels of his chariot are clock dials counting down to Death. While adults have reason to be particularly concerned by Time’s relentless march, even children push younger infants in rolling walkers in an attempt to avoid the inevitable.

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