An Allegory
The Met
Artist: Domenico Guidobono(Italian, Genoese, 1668–1746)
Date: 1710–20
Department: European Paintings
Classification: Paintings
Medium: Oil on canvas
Dimensions: 56 3/4 x 92 1/4 in. (144.1 x 234.3 cm)
Credit Line: Purchase, R. A. Farnsworth Gift, Gwynne Andrews, Charles B. Curtis, Rogers, Marquand, The Alfred N. Punnett Endowment, and Victor Wilbour Memorial Funds, 1970
Visual Descriptions
AI GeneratedVisual Summary
Brief Description
A woman with a book, a child pointing, various animals, a skull, and a smoking cauldron
Detailed Description
A scene features two human figures, several animals, and various objects against a dark background. In the center-right, a woman reclines, her upper body bare except for a white lace-trimmed garment. Voluminous red fabric covers her lower body and extends across the foreground. Her head is turned to the upper left, and her gaze is directed upwards. Her right hand rests on an open book, placed on top of another closed book. Her left hand is also near the open book, holding a stylus or pointer. To the left of the woman, a child stands, facing slightly right and looking directly forward. The child has light hair and wears a white dress with a blue bodice and white puffy sleeves. The child's right arm is extended, with the index finger pointing towards the right side of the canvas, seemingly at the woman or beyond. To the left of the child, a light-colored dog stands, looking up at the child. Behind the child, a small, striped cat peeks out. In the upper background, behind both figures, a large, dark, winged creature with a bird-like head is visible. On the far right, a large, dark cauldron emits smoke or steam, and a dead bird with white and dark feathers hangs upside down next to it. In the lower right foreground, a pale animal skull rests on the ground. Near the child's feet, a dark, furry animal, possibly a rat or weasel, lies on its side. In the upper left, a coiled, snake-like form is visible. The overall palette is dark, with the red drapery and pale skin providing strong contrasts.
Generated by gemini-2.5-flash
