Allegory of America c. late 1690s

Giovanni Antonio Pellegrini created this drawing, Allegory of America, using pen and brown ink with brush and brown wash on paper. The sepia tones and dynamic composition evoke a sense of classical grandeur tinged with nascent colonial ambition. Observe the figure of America, robust and assertive, dominating the pictorial space. Her muscular arm is raised in a gesture of command, while her foot rests upon the head of a vanquished figure, symbolizing subjugation. The artist masterfully employs line and shadow to sculpt form, creating a palpable tension between power and submission. This drawing invites us to consider the allegorical language of its time, where bodies and gestures were potent signifiers of cultural and political dominance. Pellegrini's work not only reflects the artistic conventions of the period, but also participates in a broader discourse about power, representation, and the construction of identity. It reminds us that art is never neutral; rather, it actively shapes our understanding of the world.