Allegorie met personificaties van de Schilderkunst (Pittura) en de Verdienste (Merito) c. 1774 - 1776

This allegorical print by Giovanni David, dating back to the late 18th century, presents personifications of painting, or Pittura, and merit, or Merito. The composition is structured by a contrast between the figures in the foreground and the architectural backdrop, with the figures dominating the space. David employs light and shadow to define forms, lending a sculptural quality to the figures, and a dynamic sense of movement to the scene. The figures are arranged in a manner that evokes classical ideals, yet there is also a certain theatricality in their gestures. This theatricality destabilizes established meanings of classical beauty, suggesting instead that artistic merit is something staged and performed, thus challenging the viewer to question conventional notions of value and artistic achievement.