Giacomo Stella (Brescia 1545 - Rome 1630) Allegory of Wisdom (or Prudence) Oil on canvas 193 x 75 cm, framed 199 x 82 cm The work is accompanied by a critical study written by Prof. Emilio Negro (Bologna) All the details relating to this painting can be viewed at the following - link - The beautiful allegorical composition in question, which portrays a proud female figure with a double face, was originally conceived as part of the representative furnishings of a large noble palace, and represents the personification of the cardinal virtue of Wisdom (which corresponds to Prudence in Catholic theology). It is one of the four virtues which, together with Fortitude, Temperance and Justice, were classified by Plato in his Phaedrus, and then adopted also by the Christian religion, to encompass the main human virtues, equated to the pillars of a life dedicated to goodness and rectitude. For the ancients, Prudence was considered the most important virtue available to man and the guide of all the others (auriga virtutum): specifically, it is the ability to discern, in every circumstance, our true good and to choose the appropriate means to achieve it. The iconographic representation, in our case, sees a woman with a statuesque physique with two faces like Janus who look - wisely - in several directions at the same time. The first face, young and therefore allusive to the present, is turned to a mirror, which expresses the need for man to know himself and to correct any defects before acting. The second face is that of an old man, and instead symbolizes past experience, without which the virtue of Prudence is not acquired. A snake is coiled around the woman's right arm, an ancient symbol of Time that renews itself cyclically and of eternity, thus alluding to the perennial need to exercise this virtue. The snake is likewise a symbol of the temptation that wants to distance us from the safest path, recalling the passage from the Gospel of Matthew “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; therefore be shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves” (Matthew, 10, 16). The work, the execution of which expresses elegance and power at the same time, can be traced back to Giacomo Stella (Brescia 1545 - Rome 1630), a significant Mannerist artist active between the 16th and 17th centuries, originally from Brescia but active especially in Rome, where he moved at a young age, under the pontificates of Gregory XIII (1572-1585) and his successors Sixtus V (1585-1590) and Urban VIII. In the papal city he came into contact with Girolamo Muziano and Cesare Nebbia, active in many of the main late 16th-century projects commissioned by the papacy. Among these, the most important is the fresco of one of the greatest religious works of the time, the construction and decoration of the Sistine Chapel in the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore (not to be confused with that of the Vatican), destined to become the funeral chapel for Pope Sixtus V. A painter of great temperament and gifted with a beautiful naturalistic shot, the great frescoes of the 'Resurrection' and the 'Creation of Eve', at the Scala Santa in Rome, are certainly due to his unique hand. The painting is in good conservation condition. The painting is sold together with a pleasant gilded wooden frame. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: The work is sold with a certificate of authenticity and descriptive iconographic sheet. We take care of and organize the transport of purchased works, both for Italy and abroad, through professional and insured carriers. It is also possible to see the painting in the gallery in Riva del Garda, we will be happy to welcome you to show you our collection of works. Contact us, without obligation, for any additional information. Follow us also on: https://www.instagram.com/galleriacastelbarco/?hl=it https://www.facebook.com/galleriacastelbarco/