An Allegory of Melancholy
1528
oil
From the collection of National Galleries Scotland
1528
oil
From the collection of National Galleries Scotland
The painting depicts a woman in an orange dress sitting on the ground, surrounded by various objects and children. She is holding a knife in her right hand and appears to be cutting a string. The woman is seated next to a table with a plate of fruit and two glasses on it. In the foreground, three naked babies are playing with a dog, while a ball and other objects lie nearby. The scene is set against a backdrop of a blue sky with clouds, and a tree with apples hangs over the woman's head. The overall atmosphere of the painting is one of contemplation and introspection, with the woman lost in thought as she works on her task. This painting is characteristic of the work of Lucas Cranach the Elder, a German artist known for his detailed and symbolic paintings.
