Lorenzo Lotto – Allegory of Chastity National Gallery of Art (Washington)

The composition presents a young woman seated in a verdant landscape, framed by dense foliage and culminating in a distant vista of mountains under a clear sky. The setting appears to be a secluded grove, suggesting a space removed from the everyday world, imbued with symbolic significance.
The central figure is draped in flowing white fabric, indicative of purity and virtue. Her posture conveys a sense of contemplation; she gazes upwards, her hands raised towards an airborne cherub who scatters what appear to be blossoms or bubbles. This gesture implies a divine blessing or perhaps a temptation resisted. The woman’s expression is difficult to discern definitively, but it seems to suggest a mixture of serenity and apprehension.
Flanking the central figure are two male figures positioned on either side. To the left, a satyr emerges from the shadows, his gaze directed towards the seated woman. His presence introduces an element of earthly desire and potential threat. On the right, another male figure reclines amongst rocks, holding what appears to be a drinking vessel. He too observes the central figure, but with a more detached air than the satyr’s overt pursuit.
The vegetation surrounding the figures is rendered with meticulous detail, contributing to the overall sense of natural abundance and tranquility. The tree behind the woman, laden with laurel leaves, reinforces themes of honor and virtue. The distant landscape, with its hazy mountains, suggests a broader context beyond the immediate scene – perhaps alluding to spiritual aspirations or an ideal realm.
The subtexts within this work revolve around the complexities of chastity and temptation. The presence of the satyr explicitly introduces the theme of earthly desire, while the cherub’s offering represents divine grace or perhaps a test of faith. The womans posture suggests an internal struggle – a conscious choice between virtue and indulgence. The composition as a whole seems to explore the precariousness of moral integrity in a world filled with allurements. It is likely intended to serve as a visual meditation on the virtues expected of women within a specific cultural and religious framework.