Giovanni Dal Ponte The Seven Virtues, ca. 1435 Tempera and gold leaf on panel: Giovanni dal Ponte was one of the earliest painters of the Italian Renaissance to illustrate humanist themes. In the present work, which originally functioned as the front of a cassone or wedding chest, the artist has combined representations of the four Cardinal Virtues (Justice, Prudence, Fortitude and Temperance) with those of the three Theological Virtues, including the enthroned figure of Charity at center. In each case, an allegorical figure is accompanied by a male exemplar drawn from either mythology, theology or ancient history. The front of Giovanni’s companion cassone, in the Museo del Prado, Madrid, depicts the Seven Liberal Arts. |