Who painted Allegory of Magnanimity?

Allegory of Magnanimity was painted by Luca Giordano in 1670.

Where can I see Allegory of Magnanimity?

Allegory of Magnanimity is held by J. Paul Getty Museum.

What movement is Allegory of Magnanimity?

Allegory of Magnanimity is associated with Early Baroque Italian.

Can I buy a print of Allegory of Magnanimity?

Museum-quality prints of Allegory of Magnanimity are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Allegory of Magnanimity

Luca Giordano , 1670

Allegory of Magnanimity is an oil painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Luca Giordano. It dates from 1670 and is held in the collection of the J. Paul Getty Museum.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1670, the oil painting titled Allegory of Magnanimity is attributed to the Italian Baroque painter Luca Giordano. The work is part of the collection of the J. Paul Getty Museum, where it is displayed among the museum’s European paintings.

Subject & Meaning

The composition centers on a regal female figure seated on a throne, crowned and robed in luminous fabrics.

The composition centers on a regal female figure seated on a throne, crowned and robed in luminous fabrics. She extends her right arm outward, suggesting a gesture of bestowal. Around her, several cherubic figures engage in symbolic actions—one holds a crown, another toys with a chain, and a third hovers above, also bearing a crown—while a lion rests at her feet, reinforcing themes of authority and generosity.

Technique & Style

Giordano employs pronounced chiaroscuro, juxtaposing a dark, shadowed backdrop with the bright, saturated colors of the central figure and the surrounding angels. This contrast enhances the three‑dimensionality of the scene and draws the eye toward the illuminated throne and its occupants, a hallmark of the dramatic Baroque aesthetic.

History & Provenance

Since its completion in the late seventeenth century, the painting has passed through various private collections before entering the Getty Museum’s holdings. Documentation confirms its attribution to Giordano and its dating to 1670, situating it within the artist’s mature period.

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Artist & collection

Artist

Luca Giordano

Luca Giordano was an Italian late-Baroque painter and printmaker in etching. Giordano was one of the most celebrated artists of the Neapolitan Baroque, whose vast output included altarpieces, mythological paintings and…