Design for a Statue of Prudence with Sketches at Upper Left Corner. 1775 - 1844

Editor: This drawing, made with ink on paper, is called "Design for a Statue of Prudence with Sketches at Upper Left Corner" by Giuseppe Bernardino Bison. Dating from 1775-1844, it feels like a study, capturing a fleeting moment. What do you see in this figure, particularly with the snake and mirror? Curator: The mirror and serpent – potent symbols deeply rooted in cultural memory! The mirror often represents self-knowledge, introspection, the ability to see oneself clearly, while the serpent can signify wisdom, healing, but also temptation and deceit. It is about looking at your experience in order to become more enlightened. Editor: So, Prudence is caught between those ideas? Curator: Precisely! Bison cleverly utilizes these symbols to represent the complexity of prudence. The figure isn’t simply wise, but actively engaged in self-reflection, discerning truth from illusion. Notice how she holds the serpent, not as a threat, but almost thoughtfully. What emotions does the mirror trigger in the viewer? Editor: Anxiety? Thinking about if what I think about myself matches how I really am in the world. Curator: Exactly! Bison prompts the viewer to consider how images and their symbolism carry both psychological and cultural weight across time, inviting us to engage in our own act of prudent self-examination. Editor: I hadn’t thought about the snake being thoughtfully regarded! Seeing these symbols anew enriches the artwork’s potential interpretations. Curator: And that is the continuing power of symbols – they continue to speak to us as we speak to them.