Andrea Mantegna - The Calumny of Apelles [1500-05]

Andrea Mantegna - The Calumny of Apelles [1500-05]

London BM

 

The drawing was done in three shades of brown ink with some white heightening.

Its subject is a complex allegory based on a classical myth and literature. The composition was based on a written description of a lost painting by the famous classical Greek painter APELLES.

Each of the figures is identified in Mantagna's handwriting. Sitting on a throne is the JUDGE with large ass's ears, extending his hand to CALUMNY (slander). Behind him stand SUSPICIO (suspicion) on the left and IGNORANTIA (ignorance) on the right who maliciously advise him. Calumny holds a torch in one hand to suggest her blazing FURIA (fury), and with the other hand drags a young man (INNOCENTIA) by the hair. He stretches out his hands to heaven and asks the gods to witness his innocence.

INVIDIA (Envy) , a thin pale man, leads Calumny, while two servants, INSIDIA (Treachery) and FRAUS (Deceit), adjust her hair and dress. The last two figures in the procession are PENITENTIA (Repentence), mourning woman who wrings her hands, and finally VERITAS (Truth), pointing to heaven and with tears in her eyes.

 

The allegory was well known in the Renaissance to both artists and scholars. Botticelli's painting of the subject (Galleria degli Uffizi, Florence) is famous.

 

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