Keywords: Thomas Couture, The Thorny Path (1873).jpg Artwork Creator Thomas Couture courtesan driving a carriage pulled by from left to right a naked elderly man representing over-indulgence; a troubadour representing youthful love; a young student who is writing representing the educated nobility insensible to daily life's realities and an old soldier filled with regret The old woman sitting at the back of the carriage may symbolize the courtesan's future while the thorny plants along the road indicate the difficulty of their journey See the reference below 1873 oil canvas in 51 5 75 Institution Philadelphia Museum of Art Gallery 151 European Art 1850 “1900 <br> Philadelphia Pennsylvania United States accession number EW1986-10-1 object history 1986 Acquired using the W P Wilstach Fund George W Elkins Fund and Edith H Bell Fund credit line Artist's initials appear on the stone bust centre background http //www philamuseum org/collections/permanent/103016 html mulR 10292 3 http //hoocher com/Thomas_Couture/The_Thorny_Path_1873 jpg other versions 100x100px Thomas Couture The Thorny Path 1873 with frame jpg PD-old-100 The Thorny Path 1873 by Thomas Couture |