Allegory of Divine Wisdom
- Artist: Luca Giordano
- Date: early 1680s
- Medium: oil on canvas
- Museum: The National Gallery
- Collection record: The National Gallery website
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About this artwork
This is the "Allegory of Divine Wisdom" by Luca Giordano, painted in the early 1680s. As you can see, it's an allegory depicting the progress of mankind through the acquisition of knowledge and wisdom. The kneeling warrior represents human intellect, being released from ignorance.
Notice how Mathematics gives him wings, while Philosophy holds out a mirror to represent self-knowledge. Above them, Theology directs his gaze towards the enthroned figure, Divine Wisdom, who is illuminated by light shining from behind her head. This painting was actually designed as a modello for the ceiling frescoes in the Palazzo Medici Riccardi in Florence.
The subject is based on a line from Petrarch's Rime: 'They raise our mind from earth to heaven'. Giordano was known for his speed and skill in working with large-scale paintings, often completing them in remarkably short periods of time. This "Allegory of Divine Wisdom" is no exception, showcasing the artist's mastery over oil on canvas.
See it in person
Allegory of Divine Wisdom hangs in The National Gallery on Trafalgar Square, London — free to enter. Point your phone at any artwork there and audioguide.london plays a free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
