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Allegory on the Good and the Corrupt Tree

A work made of engraving in black on cream laid paper.
CC0 Public Domain Designation

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  • A work made of engraving in black on cream laid paper.

Date:

c. 1600

Artist:

Gillis van Breen (Dutch, active 1588-1622)
after Karel van Mander (Dutch, 1548 - 1606)

About this artwork

The contrasting couples in this composition are meant to demonstrate virtuous and sinful love. On the right, a couple in luxurious fabrics embraces, sitting next to a tree rooted in a blackened heart and skull and with monstrous creatures on its thorny branches. To the left stand a man and woman clothed in light robes and holding hands beside a flowering tree, which sprouts from a white heart above the word “Christ.” The inscription reinforces the idea that spiritual love leads to salvation, whereas earthly desire leads to damnation. This print was engraved by Dutch artist Gillis van Breen after a design by Karel van Mander, another artist who belonged to the same social circle.

Status

On View, Gallery 213

Department

Prints and Drawings

Artist

Gillis van Breen

Title

Allegory on the Good and the Corrupt Tree

Place

Netherlands (Artist's nationality:)

Date  Dates are not always precisely known, but the Art Institute strives to present this information as consistently and legibly as possible. Dates may be represented as a range that spans decades, centuries, dynasties, or periods and may include qualifiers such as c. (circa) or BCE.

1595–1605

Medium

Engraving in black on cream laid paper

Dimensions

19.3 × 28.5 cm (7 5/8 × 11 1/4 in.)

Credit Line

Gift of Charles Hack and The Hearn Family Trust

Reference Number

2024.41

IIIF Manifest  The International Image Interoperability Framework (IIIF) represents a set of open standards that enables rich access to digital media from libraries, archives, museums, and other cultural institutions around the world.

Learn more.

https://api.artic.edu/api/v1/artworks/271908/manifest.json

Extended information about this artwork

Object information is a work in progress and may be updated as new research findings emerge. To help improve this record, please email . Information about image downloads and licensing is available here.

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