In art, allegory refers to a visual work in which the literal work, such as the figures in a painting, represents an idea that implies a deeper or parallel meaning. Allegory comes from two Greek words that mean “other” and “to speak in public.” Symbolic figures or other symbols are sometimes used to communicate the allegory’s meaning. The viewer’s mind makes associations between the allegorical figures or symbols and other elements in the work, which convey a meaning beyond the literal representation.
In artistic representation, allegory is frequently used. Allegorical symbols such as statues of “Justice” are frequently used. A robed woman represents the abstract concept. She is blindfolded to represent impartiality and justice for all who seek it. She is holding a pair of scales, implying that justice entails weighing facts and evidence in order to reach a just conclusion.
Allegory in art frequently employs figures from Greco-Roman mythology. Mercury represents speed, Venus represents love, and Neptune represents the sea. In some paintings, mythological figures are the only symbols present, and they are used to convey a message or tell a story. Sandro Botticelli used a variety of Greek gods, goddesses, and nymphs to depict the arrival of spring in his painting “La Primavera.”
Albrecht Dürer’s painting “Melencolia I” is a well-known example of allegory in art that is still studied and reinterpreted today. It is commonly interpreted as being about the melancholy that can befall an artist whose imagination takes precedence over reason. The figure of a woman with a sad expression on her face is surrounded by unused architectural and geometric tools. Next to her, a winged figure of genius sits despondently. Many books have been written about the alchemical symbols in the painting and their potential meanings.
In art, allegory has a long history. Cesare Ripa, an Italian author, compiled his Iconologica in the 1600s, which listed all of the different allegorical symbols. During the Renaissance, many painters used his work as a model for their own works.
Artists’ self-portraits have their own set of symbols. A pendant mask worn around the artist’s neck represents the artist’s attempt to imitate life. The chaos of artistic creation is reflected in unruly hair. The brush is the artist’s means of expression, and the mouth is bound silent, as indicated by a strip of cloth somewhere in the painting.