The Seven Ages of Man

1975

Pat Hanly

Accessible

Type

  • Painting

Medium

  • Enamel paint
  • Board

Dimensions

  • Each approx: H2615 x W1260 x D30mm

Pat Hanly, 'The Seven Ages of Man: 3 Youth' (1975), Grafton Campus, University of Auckland

Image: Bronwyn Holloway-Smith, Public Art Heritage Aotearoa New Zealand, 2021

1975–Current

The elevator lobbies over 7 stories of the building (Basement to Level 5), Building 505, Grafton Campus, University of Auckland, Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland

Artists
Credit

The University of Auckland Art Collection

Associated Artwork Person(s)
Associated Artwork Organisation(s)

Description

“The seven paintings in Pat Hanly's 'The Seven Ages of Man' were commissioned by Hamish Keith in 1975 for the then-new Medical School 'Link' building in Auckland, where they have been ever since, one for each floor.

"Hanley's suite of work references Shakespeare's 'all the world's a stage' monologue from As You Like It, and coincides with a period of self-discovery he began with his Who Am I?/I Am/Do It works at the start of the 1970s, culminating with the 'Golden Age' series."

"It was also during this period that he completed a number of major commissions, including murals for the Christchurch Town Hall (1971) and the Auckland International Airport (1977)."

"He was concerned more for the integrity of expression than the commercial value of his work, and demonstrated his concern for social, moral and political issues not only through his painting, but also by public demonstration.”

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