\paperw4260 \margr0\margl0 \plain \fs20 \f1 Along with Lorenzo CostaÆs painting of the \i Allegory of the Court of Isabella dÆEste\i0 , this work by \b \cf4 \ATXht1206 Perugino
\b0 \cf0 \ATXht0 must have been part of the pictorial decoration commissioned by Isabella dÆEste Gonzaga for her \i Studiolo\i0 in the Ducal Palace of Mantua. The subject and iconographic content of the picture were chosen by the marchesa herself: it was
to represent the Loves of the Gods, inspired by OvidÆs \i Metamorphoses\i0 , and in particular the \b \i \cf4 \ATXht1196 Combat between Love and Chastity\b0 \i0 \cf0 \ATXht0 , that is to say a struggle between Pallas Athena and Artemis on the one side a
nd Aphrodite and Eros on the other. On the left we see Pallas, the goddess of wisdom, who defeats Eros, holding him by his veil and raising her spear as if to strike him. ErosÆs eyes are blindfolded and his silver bow lies broken at his feet. In the midd
le we see Artemis, shooting an arrow from her bow, locked in open combat with Aphrodite. All around, the chaste nymphs of Pallas Athena and ArtemisÆs retinue are fighting with a lascivious horde of fauns, satyrs and a multitude of little cupids. Near Pal
las, on the left, grows an olive tree, one of the goddessÆs attributes; close to Aphrodite is a myrtle, her sacred plant. In the background, set in an open landscape crossed by a river, some of the best-known amorous adventures of the gods are illustrate
d: (from the left) Zeus, in the form of a bull, carrying off the beautiful Europa; at the top, Hermes flying around Glaucera, one of AthenaÆs nymphs; Apollo and Daphne, already turned into a laurel tree; Hades taking Persephone down to his underworld kin
gdom. The final victory of Chastity over Love, and thus of Virtue over Ignorance, presents a portrait of the moral character of Isabella dÆEste, at whose court order and moral virtue held sway. \par
