Allegory of Africa, from the Four Continents

17th century

Godfried Maes captures the 17th-century European imagination of Africa in this lively Baroque drawing, featuring a regal woman lounging next to a lion and a palm tree. She holds a staff and leans against an Egyptian obelisk, surrounded by swirling ribbons that add a sense of dramatic movement. This piece is part of a series representing the Four Continents, a popular theme back when artists loved to personify geography with exotic symbols. Below her, a fancy decorative cartouche shows a figure amidst weapons and scrollwork, hinting this might have been a design for a grand tapestry or ceiling.

Views: 6

Related Artworks

Death on a Canopied Throne (Design for a Title Page) Godfried Maes late 17th century
The Four Seasons Godfried Maes
The Holy Family Godfried Maes
St. Peter and St. John Finding Christ’s Tomb Empty Godfried Maes 17th century
The Martyrdom of Saint George Godfried Maes 1681
Allegory of America, from the Four Continents Godfried Maes 17th century
Man on his Deathbed with Priest and Others Godfried Maes
Allegory of Europe, from the Four Continents Godfried Maes 17th century
Wedding of Peleus and Thetis Godfried Maes
The Music Competition of Pan and Apollo Godfried Maes 1700
Illustrations to the Metamorphoses of Ovid; Jupiter and Io (.1); Jupiter and Io, disguised as a white beifer (.2); Mercury Rescuing Io from Argus (.3) Godfried Maes late 17th century
Illustrations to the Metamorphoses of Ovid; Jupiter and Io (.1); Jupiter and Io, disguised as a white beifer (.2); Mercury Rescuing Io from Argus (.3). Godfried Maes late 17th century
Portrait Of The Engravers Pieter De Jode The Elder And Pieter De Jode The Younger Anthony van Dyck between 1620 and 1640
Night Charles Le Brun 1635-1642
Design for architectural structure. André-Charles Boulle 1875-1890
Reindeer with a sledge David Klöcker Ehrenstrahl 1671
View of Olinda, Brazil Frans Post 1662
The Marriage of Frederik Hendrik and Amalia van Solms Gerard van Honthorst 1651
Alexander and Roxana Peter Paul Rubens
Virgin and Child Appearing to Saint Paul Domenico Gargiulo 1612[-]75
Decorative Figures Peace and Plenty Robert Pohle c. 1938
Fable XLV. The Poet and the Rose John Wootton 1793
The Robber Bridegroom Walter Crane 1922
Louis XIV Driving his Coach in the Park of Versailles Eugène Lami 1870
Máh-To-Tóh-Pa, Four Bears, Second Chief, In Full Dress George Catlin 1832
Allegorie der ‘Roma’ Moritz von Schwind before 1842
The hero of the new era Udo Keppler 1899
Deutsche Jahrhundert Ausstellung Berlin Peter Behrens 1906