Allegory of Government: Wisdom Defeating Discord
Medium
Oil on canvas
Dimensions
20 1/8 x 15 3/8 in. (51.1 x 39.1 cm)
Classification
Paintings
Department
European Paintings
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1906
Accession Number
07.225.296
Tags
Art Historical Context
In the European Paintings department of the Metropolitan of Art, *Allegory of Government: Defeating Discord* by Jacob de Wit captivates with its dramatic Baroque flair. Painted in oil on canvas (20 1/8 x 15 3/8 in.), this intimate work from the artist's oeuvre—date unknown but likely mid-18th century—odies de Wit's mastery of allegorical themes. A leading Dutch painter influenced by Peter Paul Rubens, de Wit specialized in grand decorative schemes for Amsterdam's civic buildings, blending illusionistic depth with vibrant symbolism. The composition evokes a celestial drama amid swirling clouds...
About the Artist
Jacob de Wit · 1695–1754
Comment on works: Religious; Allegory; Bas-relief