Music and Justice with the Spinola Arms 

Giovanni Battista Gaulli created this drawing, “Music and Justice with the Spinola Arms,” as a study for a ceiling fresco, showcasing his skill in blending allegorical figures with dynastic symbolism. It’s interesting to consider the role of allegory during Gaulli’s time; how artists navigated the expectations of their patrons while also expressing broader cultural values. Here, Justice, with her scales, stands alongside Music, each figure embodying ideals that the Spinola family, whose heraldic shield is prominently displayed, wished to associate with their lineage. The choice to depict these concepts through female figures speaks to the gendering of virtues common in the Baroque period. Justice and Music weren’t just abstract ideas, they were feminized ideals meant to inspire a sense of harmony and order. Consider how the soft lines and gentle shading contribute to a sense of ethereal beauty, inviting the viewer to contemplate the relationship between power, representation, and the performance of identity. It leaves you wondering how the artist might have wanted you to consider the connection between truth, beauty, and power.