Allegory of Sacred and Profane Love 1665 - 1675

Michele Desubleo’s Allegory of Sacred and Profane Love, made with oil on canvas, presents us with an intriguing view of love. But is it really just about love? Painted in Italy, this canvas reflects the tension between earthly pleasures and divine pursuits in the 17th century. Look at the way the artist uses symbols: musical instruments, laurel wreaths, and a blindfolded cupid are all visual codes. What do they tell us about the cultural values of the time? The presence of musical instruments points to the importance of art and learning, yet the blindfolded cupid suggests a critique of worldly passions. This tension reflects the social structures of the time, where the Church played a huge role in cultural life. Understanding this painting means looking at how religious institutions shaped artistic production. We can understand the role of this painting in its own time by exploring the cultural debates of 17th-century Italy.