A natural historical detail in an allegorical painting at the Prado Museum
A tentative reinterpretation of figurative attributes in the late-seventeenth-century anonymous painting 'Air' (Prado Museum, Madrid), in the context of emblem literature.
College of Arts School of Modern Languages and Cultures Stirling Maxwell Centre
Date: Thursday 17 March 2022
Time: 17:00 - 18:00
Venue: Humanity Lecture Theatre (Main Building, room 255)
Category: Conferences, Public lectures
Speaker: José Ramón Marcaida (History Institute, CSIC)
Document: Poster for event
José Ramón Marcaida explores an alternative interpretation of the late-seventeenth-century painting Air (anonymous, oil on canvas), currently at the Prado Museum, in Madrid. The painting is one of a group of four paintings, representing the four elements (Earth, Water, and Fire). The female figure is represented with attributes related to 'air' as a natural element, such as rain and thunder. However, the attribute she holds in her left hand has been the subject of debate. José Ramón Marcaida will be presenting a possible connection with emblem literature.
