Allegory of Painting by Giovanni David

Allegory of Painting c. 1775 - 1776

0:00
0:00

drawing, print, ink, engraving

# 

drawing

# 

ink drawing

# 

allegory

# 

print

# 

figuration

# 

ink

# 

line

# 

history-painting

# 

academic-art

# 

engraving

Dimensions: 123 × 85 mm (trimmed within platemark)

Copyright: National Gallery of Art: CC0 1.0

Giovanni David made this etching entitled, "Allegory of Painting," sometime in the late eighteenth century. The central figure of the image is a woman, who is presumed to be the allegory of painting, sitting in front of a canvas and painting the clouds on the upper right side of the image. In her left hand, she is holding the painter’s palette. This print was made in Italy at a time when the art world was dominated by academies, which were institutions that dictated what was considered good art. The image engages with the politics of imagery by using allegory, a common technique at the time. The allegory is a reminder of the classical world that artists at the time tried to emulate. The monkey is probably included to make a commentary on the arts institutions of the time. This detail serves to critique institutions of art that focus on rules and techniques, not innate talent. As an art historian, I might research academies of art in Italy in the late 1700s to further understand the context of this artwork.

Show more

Comments

No comments

Be the first to comment and join the conversation on the ultimate creative platform.