Luca Giordano | Allegory of Justice | NG6633

Allegory of Justice

Luca Giordano

Justice, one of the four Cardinal Virtues, is shown seated on an ostrich and carrying the scales and sword which are her attributes. To the right are Punishment and Recompense, and on the left is the masked and serpent-tailed figure of Deceit. Discord and Strife flee to the right while the flying figures above represent the effects of justice: Order, Fame and Security.

This painting is one of a group of 10 modelli, or elaborated oil studies, made in preparation for the fresco projects that Giordano created for the Palazzo Medici Riccardi in Florence. This painting is connected with the ceiling of the Galleria.

Key facts

Artist	Luca Giordano
Artist dates	1634 - 1705
Full title	Allegory of Justice
Group	Modelli for the Palazzo Medici Riccardi, Florence
Date made	early 1680s
Medium and support	Oil on canvas
Dimensions	99.9 × 96 cm
Acquisition credit	Presented by the Trustees of Sir Denis Mahon's Charitable Trust through the Art Fund, 2013
Inventory number	NG6633
Location in Gallery	Room 40

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Modelli for the Palazzo Medici Riccardi, Florence

This group of 10 modelli, or elaborated oil studies, was made in preparation for the fresco projects that Giordano undertook in the Palazzo Medici Riccardi in Florence between 1682 and 1685.

Nine are associated with the ceiling of the Galleria and one, the 'Allegory of Divine Wisdom', is for the ceiling of the adjacent Library.

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Modelli for the Palazzo Medici Riccardi, Florence

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