Allegory of Virtues
1525-1530
Correggio painted this lively scene for the Duke of Mantua, Federico II Gonzaga, as a moralizing counterpart to a much naughtier 'Allegory of Vice.' The central figure is Minerva, goddess of wisdom, clad in armor and holding a helmet, while a squad of floating angels prepares to crown her with laurel. Below, a lion naps peacefully next to a figure holding a red spear, symbolizing tamed strength and military power. It’s a colorful Renaissance resume, designed to tell the Duke he was a wise and virtuous ruler!
Location: Louvre Museum, Paris
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