Virtus Combusta: An Allegory of Virtue
1500/1505
Medium
engraving on laid paper by Giovanni Antonio da Brescia
Dimensions
sheet: 27.3 x 40.7 cm (10 3/4 x 16 in.)
Classification
Department
CG-E
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Gift of W.G. Russell Allen
Accession Number
1941.1.1
Art Historical Context
Created in the workshop of Andrea Mantegna between 1500 and 1505, *Virtus Combusta: An Allegory of Virtue* is a striking Renaissance engraving executed on laid paper by Giovanni Antonio da Brescia. Measuring just over 10 by 16 inches, this print exemplifies the innovative printmaking practices that flourished in northern Italy at the turn of the sixteenth century. Mantegna’s workshop was renowned for its exploration of classical themes, and this work continues that tradition by presenting virtue in allegorical form, inviting viewers to reflect on moral ideals through symbolic imagery. Engravi...