Who painted Allegory on the Recovery of the King?

Allegory on the Recovery of the King was painted by Francesco Bartolozzi in 1790.

Where can I see Allegory on the Recovery of the King?

Allegory on the Recovery of the King is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Allegory on the Recovery of the King?

Allegory on the Recovery of the King is associated with Romanticism.

Artwork

Allegory on the Recovery of the King

Francesco Bartolozzi , 1790

Allegory on the Recovery of the King is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Francesco Bartolozzi. It dates from 1790 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Allegory on the Recovery of the King is a stipple engraving on wove paper created by Francesco Bartolozzi in 1790. The work commemorates the restoration of a monarch's health through symbolic imagery.

Subject & Meaning

The print depicts a symbolic scene with four figures: two robed women holding branches flank a central, crowned, robed man on a platform, and a kneeling woman with two children below. Latin inscriptions, including 'Saturnia Regna', allude to a mythical era of peace, framing the king's recovery as a return to harmony.

Technique & Style

Bartolozzi employed fine stipple engraving lines to achieve detailed shadows and textures, characteristic of his refinement of the crayon method, which emphasized subtle tonal variations.

History & Provenance

Produced during Bartolozzi's productive years in London, this engraving reflects his contributions to advancing printmaking techniques in the late 18th century.

Context

Commissioned to celebrate a king's recovery, the allegory taps into contemporary desires for royal wellness and symbolic expressions of national stability and peace.

Legacy

While specific lasting impacts of *Allegory on the Recovery of the King* are not broadly documented, it remains a testament to Bartolozzi's technical skill and the enduring use of allegory in 18th-century European art.

Artist & collection

Artist

Francesco Bartolozzi

Francesco Bartolozzi (21 September 1727 – 7 March 1815) was an Italian engraver, whose most productive period was spent in London. He is noted for popularizing the "crayon" method of engraving.