Artwork
Allegory of Navigation with an Astrolabe: Ptolemy
Allegory of Navigation with an Astrolabe: Ptolemy is an oil painting by Paolo Veronese. It dates from 1557 and is held in the collection of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
This 1557 oil painting, Allegory of Navigation with an Astrolabe: Ptolemy, is a work by Paolo Veronese, a prominent Venetian Renaissance artist. It is part of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art's collection.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts Ptolemy, an ancient geographer, sitting on a stone ledge with an astrolabe, conveying a sense of contemplation and intellectual pursuit. The scene is set against a backdrop of a carved stone wall, underscoring the subject's significance.
Technique & Style
Veronese's use of chiaroscuro creates a dramatic effect, with strong light and dark contrasts that focus attention on Ptolemy. The artist's mastery of color is evident in the subject's flowing red robe, contributing to the overall grandeur of the scene.
Artist & collection
Artist
Paolo Caliari (1528 – 19 April 1588), known as Paolo Veronese ( VERR-ə-NAY-zay, -zee, US also -see; Italian: ), was an Italian Renaissance painter based in Venice, known for extremely large history paintings of…
