Allegory of Painting c. 1775 - 1776

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.