Allegorical scene 

Achille Beltrame painted this allegorical scene in Italy, sometime in the early twentieth century. Immediately, one is struck by the classical imagery, with its ancient statues and flowing, Greco-Roman-style dresses. The image creates meaning through visual codes that reference the art of classical antiquity. The women, arranged around the fountain, are gathering and carrying yellow flowers, perhaps symbols of beauty or prosperity. But this image is more than just a classical revival, it reflects the artist’s own time, during which national identity and cultural heritage were becoming central to Italian society. The popularity of classical imagery served to create a sense of shared history and cultural pride. To understand the painting fully, it is crucial to research the cultural and political context in which it was made, considering questions of national identity, artistic traditions, and the public role of art in early twentieth-century Italy. This artwork is contingent on the social and institutional context in which it was created.