On-line gallery
- Reference number
- P00499
- Author
- Veronese, Paolo (Italian)
- Title
- Youth between Vice and Virtue
- Chronology
- Ca. 1581
- Technique
- Support
- Measures
- 102 cm x 153 cm
- School
- Theme
- Shown
- No
- Entrance
- COLECCION REAL
- Procedence
- Royal Collection
The moralizing intention of this
work shows the two paths that will
tempt men over the course of their
lives: Virtue and Vice. Virtue,
wearing the crown of laurels that
has been her symbol since
Antiquity, and hiding her anatomy
under ample vestments, takes the
youth by the hand. Vice, in the
form of a blond Venetian courtesan
with a generous décolleté and
numerous jewels, reaches out to the
youth in an effort to catch his
attention.
This scene is based on the
fictitious story by Prodicus, as
told by the Greek historian and
philosopher, Xenophon (430-354
B.C.) in his Memorabilia. The same
story was mentioned by Saint Basil
(330-379): Hercules as a boy, being
solicited by both paths.
This is a work from Veronese's
youth. He returned to this subject
in his maturity, possibly as a
self-portrait, in a painting now at
the Frick Collection in New
York.
The present work is first mentioned
in the 1666 inventory of Madrid's
Alcázar Palace.
