Humanity: The Golden Age depicting three scenes from the lives of Adam and Eve; The Silver Age depicting three scenes from Orpheus: the Iron Age depicting three scenes from the lives of Cain and Abel 1886

This intricate oil-on-canvas work, created in 1886 by the renowned French Symbolist artist Gustave Moreau, presents nine scenes from classical mythology and biblical stories. Arranged in a triptych format, the artwork depicts the Golden, Silver, and Iron Ages of humanity, featuring Adam and Eve, Orpheus, and Cain and Abel respectively. Each scene, encased in an ornate frame, is rendered in Moreau’s signature style, characterized by vivid colors, rich symbolism, and a dreamy, almost mystical atmosphere. This work, now housed at the Musée National Gustave Moreau in Paris, showcases Moreau’s profound fascination with ancient myths and their enduring relevance to human existence.