Artwork
Allegory of Dusk
Allegory of Dusk is an oil painting by the Spanish Baroque Tenebrist artist José de Madrazo y Agudo. It dates from 1819 and is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado.
About this work
Overview
Allegory of Dusk is a 1819 oil painting by José de Madrazo y Agudo, a Spanish painter and engraver who was a key figure in the country's Neoclassical movement.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts a winged female figure floating above a landscape at sunset, holding a naked infant. The scene is allegorical, with the woman and child representing abstract concepts, set against a backdrop of distant buildings and hills.
Technique & Style
The work showcases the artist's use of chiaroscuro, a technique that utilizes strong contrasts between light and dark to create a dreamy atmosphere. The painting's style is associated with the Spanish Baroque tenebrist movement, characterized by dramatic lighting effects.
History & Provenance
The painting is part of the Museo del Prado's collection. Madrazo, the artist, was the patriarch of an influential artistic family, indicating the work's significance within a broader artistic lineage.
Artist & collection
Artist
José de Madrazo y Agudo (22 April 1781 – 8 May 1859) was a Spanish painter and engraver; one of the primary exponents of the Neoclassical style in Spain.
