Art Funded by you

An Allegory (Fàbula)

Unknown artist, c. 1580–1585

© National Galleries of Scotland

A boy blows on a burning ember between a man and a monkey. The meaning is obscure - allegorical, moral, or the recreation of a lost work from a classical text, ekphrasis. It is likely that the picture illustrates a Spanish proverb: 'Man is fire; Woman is tow; and the devil blows them into flame'. It certainly seems that Fabula contained some warning as to the consequences of 'playing with fire'. This painting has a lightness of touch and fluency of form. This work was acquired with assistance from the Wolfson Foundation.

More information

Title of artwork, date

An Allegory (Fàbula), c. 1580–1585

Date supported

1989

Medium and material

Oil on canvas

Dimensions

66 x 88 cm

Grant

100000

Total cost

1269303

Content note: This object record is part of our archive and has not been updated since it was first published. It may contain inaccurate information or outdated language. Please get in touch if you think this record should be amended.

Art Funded by you FAQs

Contact us

If you have a question about a work of art in our archive, please contact the Programmes team. We’ll be happy to answer your enquiry.