ITALIAN SCHOOL. 000000 P. TESTA, ****** MUNICH GALLERY. APOLLO REWARDING THE ARTS AND SCIENCES. Although it may easily be understood that this allegorical composition has been produced to display the superiority of genius over ignorance and barbarism, still all its details are not to be explained with the same facility. Apollo, accompanied by the Muses, is however discerned without any difficulty to the right, on mount Parnassus : he is presented with a basket filled with green garlands intended to reward literary merit. A man modestly presents himself to the God, accompanied by his genius; he enlightens the world, and Fame crowns him. On the left, Hercules is seen repelling Ignorance and the Vices, thus preventing their invasion of Parnassus. Time himself is chained and appears to feel some regret at his inability to destroy the merit of the crowned author. This picture by Pietro Testa formed part of the ancient Palatine Gallery, at Dusseldorff: it is now at Munich. There exists an engraving of it by the painter himself. Width, 6 feet 4 inches; height, 4 feet 3 inches. Note. The early proofs of this plate, through a mistake, have G. Lairesse pinx. instead of P. Testa pinx. |