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Jacob Jordaens the Younger

Allegory, mid 1600s

Description

Maker

  • Jacob Jordaens the Younger, 1593-1678, Flemish

Title

Allegory

Year

mid 1600s

Medium

Black and red chalk, brush with ink washes, and traces of body color or chalk

Materials/Techniques

Materials

  • wash technique,
  • white heightening,
  • chalk

Supports

  • paper

Dimensions

30.5 x 27.6 cm (12 x 10 7/8 inches)

Signature / Inscription / Marks

Inscribed in pen and ink, LL: "Jordaans"

Verso: inscribed in pen and ink: "680. [?] Jordaans - 6."

Type

  • Works on Paper,
  • Drawings and Watercolors

Credit

Museum Works of Art Fund

Object Number

53.002

Projects & Publications

Publications

Old Master Drawings from the Museum of Art, Rhode Island School of Design

Exhibition History

Exhibition History

Under the Magnifying Glass

September 22, 2000 - January 14, 2001

Jacob Jordaens, one of 17th-century Antwerp's leading artists, produced many paintings, tapestry patterns, and drawings throughout his career. This sheet is a fine exapmle of Jordaens's mature work, although its subject has puzzled art historians for decades. Many have suggested that it represents the myth of Mercury and Herse, as told by Ovid in his Metamorphoses (Book II, 737-51), yet the male figure at left does not wear Mercury's traditional winged sandals and cap, which are particularly emphasized by Ovid. The drawing might depict an allegory of abundance. It is possible that the figure thought to be Mercury is a personification of wealth and abundance, since he holds a cornucopia in one hand and a heavy purse in the other. One of the Cupids around the female figure blows a bubble, which often symbolizes both the brevity of life and the impermanence of wealth, perhaps a warning to the woman reaching out for the proffered riches.

Old Master Drawings

September 2 - October 16, 1983

Use

The images on this website can enable discovery and collaboration and support new scholarship, and we encourage their use. This object is in the public domain (CC0 1.0). This object is Allegory with the accession number of 53.002. To request high-resolution files or new photography, please send an email to imagerequest@risd.edu and include your name and the object's accession number.

Feedback

We view our online collection as a living documents, and our records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you have additional information or have spotted an error, please send feedback to curatorial@risd.edu.

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