Artwork
Allegory of Justice
Allegory of Justice is an oil painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Bernardino Mei. It dates from 1656 and is held in the collection of the Nationalmuseum.
About this work
Overview
Allegory of Justice is a 1656 oil painting by Italian Baroque artist Bernardino Mei, featuring a reclining female figure embodying the concept of justice.
Subject & Meaning
The subject, a woman crowned and draped in symbolic attire (yellow robe, green sash, red skirt), conveys balance and justice through her pose and attributes: a scale (fairness) in her right hand and a sword (power) in her left.
Technique & Style
Mei's use of oil paint achieves a characteristic Baroque depth, with the figure's vibrant, layered clothing and the detailed background (book, vase, statue) contributing to the allegory's richness.
History & Provenance
Created during Mei's active period in Siena and Rome, with patronage ties to the Chigi family, the painting is now part of the Nationalmuseum's collection.
Context
The work reflects the Baroque era's penchant for allegorical themes, with compositional and symbolic elements reminiscent of Mei's overall oeuvre.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Bernardino Mei (23 October 1612 – 1676) was an Italian painter and engraver, who worked in a Baroque manner in his native Siena and in Rome, finding patronage above all in the Chigi family.
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