Angelica Kauffmann
Beauty Directed by Prudence Rejects with Scorn the Solicitations of Folly
| Artist: | Angelica Kauffmann (1741 - 1804) |
| Title: | Beauty Directed by Prudence Rejects with Scorn the Solicitations of Folly |
| Date: | Ca. 1780 |
| Technique: Material: |
oil canvas |
| Height (cm): | 65.5 |
| Width (cm): | 65.5 |
| Description: | These two paintings, with their revealing titles, focus on a young woman clad in white – Beauty. The first painting depicts a virtuous choice of Beauty: she resolutely pushes aside Folly, portrayed as a sensual follower of Dionysus, and stands with the motherly Prudence. In the second painting, Beauty, having maintained her sensibility, is wreathed by the handsome youngster Perfection. The titles of the paintings were selected by Kauffmann herself; the characters are made even more recognisable through their attributes. For instance, there is a mirror in Prudence’s lap, which shows the true nature of things; there is also a bridle, which symbolises self-control and sensibility. The pair of paintings was commissioned by Ann Bryer, the widow of the English publisher Henry Bryer, who had the pictures engraved by Jean-Marie Delattre (1745–1840) and published them in 1783/84. The prints made Kauffmann’s Beauty and Prudence widely known and thus they became two of the best-loved subjects in 19th century applied art, particularly based on the products of a Vienna porcelain factory. |
| Exhibition history: | 2016 Kadriorg Art Museum Permanent Exhibition |
| Related categories: | Foreign Art |
| Copyright notice: | Art Museum of Estonia |
| AME collection: | Foreign paintings collection |
| Collection number: | VM 313 |
| File info: |
Source type: digital photography File type: TIF File size: 22.36MB Resolution: 2714*2876px @ 300dpi |
