Allegory of The Planets and Continents 1752

Giovanni Battista Tiepolo made this oil on canvas painting, *Allegory of The Planets and Continents*, sometime in the 18th century. We see a swirling, theatrical composition of mythological figures, representing both celestial bodies and earthly continents. Tiepolo, a Venetian painter, worked at a time when Europe's colonial powers were expanding their reach across the globe. Allegories like this were often commissioned by the wealthy elite to reinforce their dominion, both earthly and divine. The glorification of European culture, set against the backdrop of planetary order, subtly legitimizes the social and political hierarchies of the time. To truly understand this artwork, we must consider the political motivations of its patrons, the conventions of allegorical painting, and the role of art institutions in shaping public taste. We need to consider how the culture in which it was made influenced the artist's choices.