Who painted An Allegorical Female Figure: Music (?)?

An Allegorical Female Figure: Music (?) was painted by Giovanni Battista Zelotti in 1562.

Where can I see An Allegorical Female Figure: Music (?)?

An Allegorical Female Figure: Music (?) is held by Victoria and Albert Museum.

What movement is An Allegorical Female Figure: Music (?)?

An Allegorical Female Figure: Music (?) is associated with Mannerism.

Artwork

An Allegorical Female Figure: Music (?)

Giovanni Battista Zelotti , 1562

An Allegorical Female Figure: Music (?) is an oil painting by the Mannerist artist Giovanni Battista Zelotti. It dates from 1562 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. Created circa 1562, this oil painting portrays an allegorical female figure associated with music.

About this work

Overview

Created circa 1562, this oil painting portrays an allegorical female figure associated with music. Executed in a mannerist idiom, the work belongs to the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum and reflects the late‑Renaissance sensibilities of its creator.

Subject & Meaning

The composition shows a woman reclined on a ledge, her right arm raised and left hand supporting her head, eyes lowered in contemplation. The attire—a flowing robe—and the pose convey an idealized elegance, suggesting an embodiment of the musical arts within an allegorical framework.

Technique & Style

Rendered in oil, the painting employs pronounced chiaroscuro, contrasting illuminated areas with deep shadows to model form and impart a tactile surface. The handling of light and the elongated proportions are characteristic of mannerist aesthetics, emphasizing graceful distortion over strict naturalism.

Context

Giovanni Battista Zelotti, also known as Battista da Verona or Battista Farinati, trained in Verona and Venice under Antonio Badile and Domenico Riccio, absorbing influences from Titian. He collaborated with Paolo Veronese and contributed to decorative schemes such as the Villa Soranza near Castelfranco in 1551, situating this work within his broader oeuvre of courtly allegories.

Artist & collection

Artist

Giovanni Battista Zelotti

Giovanni Battista Zelotti (Italian pronunciation: ; 1526 – 28 August 1578) was an Italian painter of the late Renaissance, active in Venice and her mainland territories.