Who painted Temperance?

Temperance was painted by Domenichino in 1629.

Where can I see Temperance?

Temperance is held by Cleveland Museum of Art.

What movement is Temperance?

Temperance is associated with Baroque.

Artwork

Temperance

Domenichino , 1629

Temperance is a drawing by the Baroque artist Domenichino. It dates from 1629 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. This drawing is a preparatory study for a fresco in the Church of San Carlo ai Catinari in Rome, depicting one of the four cardinal virtues.

About this work

The tiny grid lines—called squaring—helped the artist copy the sketch onto a much bigger wall.

You see a woman pouring liquid from one cup to another, her face calm and focused.

This drawing was a practice run for a church ceiling in Rome. The tiny grid lines—called squaring—helped the artist copy the sketch onto a much bigger wall. It’s like tracing, but with math. The edges are uneven because the paper was cut and glued together in pieces.

To see how this turned out in full color, look up the subject *italy, 17th century*.

Overview

This drawing is a preparatory study for a fresco in the Church of San Carlo ai Catinari in Rome, depicting one of the four cardinal virtues.

Subject & Meaning

The allegorical figure of Temperance is shown reclining on a cloud, holding a palm branch and interacting with a putto. An alternative representation of Temperance is visible, where a woman pours liquid from one cup to another, embodying calmness and focus.

Technique & Style

The drawing features a grid pattern, known as squaring, which facilitated the transfer of the design to a larger surface. The composition was assembled from multiple sheets of paper with irregular edges, cut and pasted together.

History & Provenance

The drawing was created by Domenichino as a study for his frescoes inside the dome of the Church of San Carlo ai Catinari in Rome. Changes to the composition, such as the position of Temperance's right hand and the presence of two camel heads, reveal the artist's iterative process.

Artist & collection

Artist

Domenichino

Domenico Zampieri (US: , Italian: ; October 21, 1581 – April 6, 1641), known by the diminutive Domenichino (US: , Italian: ) after his shortness, was an Italian Baroque painter of the Bolognese School of painters.