Allegory of Virtue and Vice (The Choice of Hercules)
Dublin Core
Title
Description
This work, Allegory of Virtue and Vice (The Choice of Hercules) depicts a man, Hercules, making the choice between two women, who symbolize Vice and Virtue [1]. Veronese was the last of Venice’s three great painters of the sixteenth century, after Titian and Tintoretto [2]. The three shared common elements in styles, subjects, and mediums, all of which were revolutionary for the time. The strong use of color in this painting is one of those styles, called colorito, is most obvious in the clothing of the two female figures. Virtue is seen in a rich green, and wears much simpler clothing than her counterpart, Vice, who wears far fancier garments in blue and orange. The use of mythological scenes as the subjects of paintings is also a common trend, and one that was very different than the religious subjects of the fifteenth century [2]. Finally, the use of oil on canvas as a medium was revolutionized and mastered by these three artists, and the impressive uses of color and detail are obvious in this work.
The figure of Vice is seen moving towards Hercules, her clawed hand reaching out to him. Behind her is a figure of a sphinx, and in front of it a knife, which were symbols of both lust and death in the Renaissance [3]. With blonde hair and elegant clothing, she is clearly meant to be the more beautiful figure by Venetian standards of the time. This depiction of Vice shows her allure – a life of beauty and fun, even if it leads to ultimate demise. Hercules has clearly had previous interactions with this figure, and it can be assumed the torn fabric on his calf is a result of her claws. In this scene however, he has moved towards Virtue, who promises a life of work that leads to true happiness [3]. The message the figures depict visually is stated in writing on the statue behind them, reading “Honor and Virtue Flourish After Death” [1]. This is the choice Hercules has made, to commit his life to work and virtue for the eventual happiness it will provide him.
[1] “The Choice Between Virtue and Vice.” The Frick Collection. Accessed November 11, 2020. https://collections.frick.org/objects/276/the-choice-between-virtue-and-vice.
[2] Ilchman, Frederick, and Linda Borean. Titian, Tintoretto, Veronese: Rivals in Renaissance Venice. Farnham: Lund Humphries, 2009.
[3] MacDonald, Deanna. “Paolo Veronese: The Choice Between Virtue and Vice.” Great Works of Western Art - The Choice Between Virtue and Vice. Accessed November 11, 2020. http://www.worldsbestpaintings.net/artistsandpaintings/painting/21/.
Creator
Source
Publisher
“The Choice Between Virtue and Vice.” The Frick Collection. Accessed November 11, 2020. https://collections.frick.org/objects/276/the-choice-between-virtue-and-vice.
Ilchman, Frederick, and Linda Borean. Titian, Tintoretto, Veronese: Rivals in Renaissance Venice. Farnham: Lund Humphries, 2009.
MacDonald, Deanna. “Paolo Veronese: The Choice Between Virtue and Vice.” Great Works of Western Art - The Choice Between Virtue and Vice. Accessed November 11, 2020. http://www.worldsbestpaintings.net/artistsandpaintings/painting/21/.
Paolo Veronese (Paolo Caliari), European; Southern European; Italian, c.1528-1588. c. 1580. Allegory of Virtue and Vice (The Choice of Hercules). Paintings. Place: The Frick Collection, New York, New York, USA, Purchased, 12.1.129, http://www.frick.org/. https://library.artstor.org/asset/AMICO_FRICK_103804848.