Who painted The Triumphs of Love and Chastity?

The Triumphs of Love and Chastity was painted by Apollonio di Giovanni.

Where can I see The Triumphs of Love and Chastity?

The Triumphs of Love and Chastity is held by National Galleries Scotland.

What movement is The Triumphs of Love and Chastity?

The Triumphs of Love and Chastity is associated with Early Renaissance.

Artwork

The Triumphs of Love and Chastity

Apollonio di Giovanni

The Triumphs of Love and Chastity is an unspecified painting by the Early Renaissance artist Apollonio di Giovanni. It is held in the collection of the National Galleries Scotland.

About this work

Overview

Apollonio di Giovanni’s The Triumphs of Love and Chastity, painted around 1500, is an oil work now in the collection of the Scottish National Gallery. The composition is dominated by two opposing chariots that face one another across a dimly lit landscape, each drawn by a different animal and attended by groups of figures.

Subject & Meaning

The left-hand chariot, pulled by a white horse, carries a standing figure that represents love, while the right-hand vehicle, drawn by a long‑necked, tailed creature, bears a figure embodying chastity. The surrounding crowd, posed in various gestures, suggests a celebratory procession that contrasts the forces of passion and virtue.

Technique & Style

Apollonio employs a strong chiaroscuro effect, using deep shadows to model the figures and the darkened background, which is punctuated by the silhouettes of distant trees. The contrast between illuminated forms and the surrounding gloom heightens the sense of drama and emphasizes the central allegorical encounter.

History & Provenance

Created at the turn of the sixteenth century, the painting entered the Scottish National Gallery’s holdings in the twentieth century, where it remains on display as part of the museum’s Italian Renaissance collection.