Allegorical Figure Representing Arithmetic
Medium
Fresco, transferred to canvas
Dimensions
146 x 57 7/8 in. (370.8 x 147 cm)
Classification
Paintings
Department
European Paintings
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bequest of Grace Rainey Rogers, 1943
Accession Number
43.85.14
Tags
Art Historical Context
In the grand tradition of 18th-century Venetian frescoes, *Allegorical Figure Representing* (1760) showcases a masterful collaboration between Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, celebrated Rococo master known for his luminous, theatrical compositions, and Girolamoozzi (called Colonna a specialist in illusionistic architecture. Tiep's elegant female figure personifies Arithmetic—one of the seven liberal arts—poised with classical poise amid Colonna's trompe-l'œil architectural framing, blurring the line between painting and sculpture. This work evokes the Enlightenment-era fascination with knowledge, w...
About the Artist
Girolamo Mengozzi (called Colonna)|Giovanni Battista Tiepolo (Italian|Italian) · 1688 |1696 –1766 |1770
Italian, Venetian, 1688–ca. 1766|Italian, Venice 1696–1770 Madrid