Life of Humanity

Gustave Moreau's Life of Humanity, an 1886 painting, is a complex work displayed at the Musée Gustave-Moreau. The artwork is a series of smaller paintings within ornate, gilded frames, arranged in a grid under a larger arched painting at the top. The overall composition suggests a narrative, possibly allegorical, depicting various scenes of human life, possibly relating to themes of creation, love, loss, and possibly death. The smaller paintings show figures in various landscapes, some appearing nude or semi-nude, others clothed, and some interacting with angelic or possibly mythological figures. The style is characteristic of Moreau's Symbolist approach, with rich colors and a dreamlike quality. The exact dimensions of the entire piece are not provided.