Allegorical Figure of Religion (recto); Study of a Griffon and of a Seated Figure (verso) 1553 - 1615

Cherubino Alberti produced this red chalk drawing, Allegorical Figure of Religion, in Italy in the late 16th or early 17th century. It embodies the period’s renewed interest in classical forms, while very much serving the needs of the Catholic Church. The figure's idealized form and flowing drapery draw on ancient Roman sculpture. However, Alberti’s figure is not a pagan goddess but an allegory of Christian Religion, as she raises her gaze to the heavens and holds a sword symbolizing faith. This drawing was likely made in preparation for a print or fresco, perhaps intended to decorate a church or other religious building. We can consider this image in light of the Catholic Church's efforts to reaffirm its authority through art and architecture during the Counter-Reformation. To understand Alberti's artistic choices, scholars consult a wide range of sources, from emblem books that explain iconographic symbolism to architectural treatises. The meaning of art is never fixed but always emerges from its specific social and institutional context.