Allegory of Virtue and Vice

The painting depicts a surreal scene full of symbolic elements. In the foreground, a naked human body is seen with its face buried in the ground, while a second figure in an advanced state of decomposition lies next to a bowl and spoon. The scene is complemented by a tree growing out of the fossil, on which hangs a shield with the image of two winged lions. The background of the painting is a contrasting scene of a calm landscape and storm clouds.

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Prevailing color of this fine art print is vivid and its shape is portrait. This image is printed on demand - you can choose material, size and finishing.

Lorenzo Lotto (1480-1556) was an Italian painter during the Renaissance. He was likely a student of Giovanni Bellini. From him, he learned perspective and how to capture human movement. During his life, Lotto travelled through Italy. His paintings came to the attention of Bishop Bernardin de Rossi, of whom Lotto painted a portrait. His next contracts were altarpieces. In 1508, Lotto went to Rome, where he decorated the Pope’s private rooms at the wishes of the Pope’s architect Bramante. He eventually returned to his native Venice, where he painted mainly religious paintings, variations of Madonna with Child. He painted for very rich clients. At the end of his life, he once again began traveling and entered the monastery, where he took the oath of priesthood. He was blind and lost his voice in old age. He was buried in a Dominican monastery.