Allegory of Art and Knowledge with the Coat-of-Arms of Hans Wilpert Zoller 1694

Curator: Welcome. Before us hangs Mathias Füssli the Younger's "Allegory of Art and Knowledge with the Coat-of-Arms of Hans Wilpert Zoller," created in 1694. It’s currently held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Editor: My immediate impression is of buoyant lightness. It's monochrome ink on paper, yet evokes such airiness through dynamic lines and flowing compositions. A classical allegorical scene rendered with a deft, almost playful hand. Curator: Indeed. Füssli was working within the late Baroque aesthetic. These allegories were often commissioned to glorify patrons or commemorate events. The coat-of-arms, prominently displayed, tells us this drawing likely served as a preparatory design, perhaps for a bookplate or print dedicated to Hans Wilpert Zoller. Editor: Absolutely. And within the formal composition, the figures are all symbolic. Putti bearing symbols of music, architecture, and learning fill the heavens. Notice the sharp contrast created between the grounded architectural drawing and its divine inspiration; the terrestrial contrasted with the celestial, all conveyed in subtle tonal shifts. Curator: It speaks volumes about the era’s belief in divine inspiration as fundamental to artistic and intellectual achievement. Think about the role of patronage in that historical period. Zoller's patronage enabled the creation of this image, embedding him in a lineage of learning and artistic endorsement. Editor: Look at how the clouds are used, not just as background, but structural support—they divide the plane in distinct bands. We are directed from the architectural details rising at the horizon towards an infinite implied space. Curator: And the figure with the quill. That figure alludes to Zoller’s intellectual contributions, but also, visually reminds us of the power of the printed word, especially important for those who sought visibility through print in this era. Editor: I notice, too, the visual repetition of spherical and semi-spherical forms and figures - celestial and man-made—giving it a compelling structure. Curator: Viewing it in its full context is particularly rewarding, as we get insight into the complex dance between artistic production, patronage, and the pursuit of knowledge during that era. Editor: A layered and fascinating composition for anyone taking time to closely observe its forms and figures.