Allegorical canvas “Jupiter, Mercury and Virtue” belongs to the era of the Later Renaissance. It was born by a talented painter and engraver Dossau Dossi at the time of the formation of his technique and the claim to various branches of painting.
The presented work demonstrates Dosso’s commitment to the Ferrara School of Painting, which is characterized by allegorical subjects with romantic overtones. The history of work takes the viewer to the distant mythical times of Rome, when the Gods lived on earth. The narration opens the scene of the relationship between the father of Jupiter and his son Mercury and their usual time of escort. Jupiter is old, calm and dumb. His occupation – the letter lies exactly on the canvas in the form of light blue butterflies. Opposite him, Mercury is the God of the wind, the ruffian and the merry. He is distracted by the virtue, hiding interest and hiding joy behind a reproachful finger at the lips.
The silence that stands with a glass wall can not be broken, so as not to provoke the anger of the eldest. The artist paid no less attention to the character Virtue than the Gods, but her face is troubled by some masculinity and enlarged body parts – these are strong full hands with wide palms, a massive neck, unhuman rigor of the lines of the face, even ugliness. Such a picture is not accidental. After all, Virtue in Roman mythology combined in itself the zealous fulfillment of civic duty, and military courage. However, one can not say with certainty that in this interpretation the author had exactly the same Virtus. But the image of Mercury is accurately conveyed. There are also winged sandals, a diadem with wings, and youth. The young man’s father is clothed in a bright shroud and is issued the brightest and clearest spot.
Separately I want to note the landscape of the plan. Nature managed Dosso Dossi especially well, given the nuance that during the development of the late Renaissance environment was given superficial attention, and the landscape was not famous for its popularity. “Jupiter, Mercury and Virtue” – a warm canvas on the scale. It is a fusion of refined letters and themes of ancient tales. Chiaroscuro, which is present in the work of Dossi, gives some airiness to the plane of the canvas, enlivens it, makes the plot real.
However, the naked skin of the characters looks somewhat applicative due to the sharp play of light and shadow and in some unsuccessful mixing of colors towards an unnatural pink hue. You can close your eyes to this, confidently “giving yourself up” to the departed master and his finished work.
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