Thursday, April 10, 2014

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Triumph of the Virtues, c. 1502, by Andrea Mantegna is the painting for the goddess. Represented here by many earth goddesses, we have Daphne, Minerva, Diana along with Pans, a Centaur and other gods nominating Vices. This is looked over by God with St. John, Mary Magdalene and the Virgin Mary in a circular cloud in the sky. This is a commission by Isabella d'Este for her studioli and premise Andrea Mantegna appears to have fallen in love with her in the garden, with beautiful winged cupids among peach groves to nominate her beauty of divine wealth. Diana seems victorious with this. Such a glorious garden is represented for the water nymphs and the turret of vine leaves appearing to have grown over a water duct represent the watery flow.