Allegory of Life

Raphael (Raffaello Sanzio or Santi)|Giorgio Ghisi

1561 · Engraving; second state of six (BLL) · Drawings and Prints

This compelling and enigmatic image has elicited many explanations of its content, none of which have entirely resolved its meaning. An elderly man at left—possibly a philosopher—leans against a riverside rock, his hand outstretched to a crowned woman who strides toward him at right. In the most general terms, this scene is understood as an allegory with a hopeful message: the man who has poorly guided the boat of his own existence is saved by the woman representing reason. The print’s large size, numerous details, and intertwined elements contribute to a visual puzzle that requires great concentration to understand. This challenge would have appealed to an educated audience in the sixteenth century.

Artist

Raphael (Raffaello Sanzio or Santi)|Giorgio Ghisi

Date

1561

Medium

Engraving; second state of six (BLL)

Department

Drawings and Prints

Credit line

Harris Brisbane Dick Fund, 1953