The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of April 18, 2024

Allegory of Life

Allegory of Life

1561
(Italian, 1520–1582)
Italy, 16th century
engraving
Image: 38.1 x 54.4 cm (15 x 21 7/16 in.); Secondary Support: 43.1 x 59.4 cm (16 15/16 x 23 3/8 in.)
Leonard C. Hanna, Jr. Fund 1985.37
Catalogue raisonné: Lewis&Boorsch 28 iia/vi
Location: not on view

Did You Know?

Ghisi was trained in the creation of luxury metalwork, specifically armor, informing his highly skilled and complex engraving of the copperplate used to make this print.

Description

This engraving presents a complex allegory whose complete meaning remains unclear, although the plaques at the feet of the man and woman may provide one clue. The inscriptions come from the sixth book of Virgil’s Aeneid: "He who sits unfortunate will sit forever," and "Do not yield to adversities, but go out to meet them bravely." The print’s details do not correspond directly to any episode from Virgil, although book six, in which Aeneas descends into the underworld, is an allegory of human life. A similar theme could be suggested here, communicating an essentially hopeful message of overcoming tribulation.
  • Earl Spencer [1708-1746], Althorp, stamp (Lugt Supp. 2341a), lower left, in blue
    ?–1985
    (Artemis Fine Arts, Ltd., London, England), sold to The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
    March 25, 1985–
    The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
  • Love Gardens / Forbidden Fruit. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (July 2-October 29, 2023).
    Main Gallery Rotation (gallery 117): June 3, 2013 - October 7, 2013.
    Mannerism: Italian, French, and Netherlandish Prints, 1520-1620. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (August 3-October 26, 1997).
    Cleveland, Ohio: The Cleveland Museum of Art; 8/3/97 - 10/26/97. "Mannerism: Italian, French, and Netherlandish Prints, 1520-1620."
    Images of the Mind. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (July 7-August 30, 1987).
  • {{cite web|title=Allegory of Life|url=false|author=Giorgio Ghisi|year=1561|access-date=18 April 2024|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1985.37