An Allegory of Love

This composition exists in a number of versions, each with minor differences (see A. Lowenthal, Joachim Wtewael and Dutch Mannerism, Groningen, 1986, cat. nos. D-8,9). Another fragmentary version, showing the left part of the picture, was sold at Sotheby’s, Olympia, 10 December, 2001, lot 315. It seems that although the present picture was probably an original composition by Peter Wtewael (Ibid, p. 177), it was no doubt partly inspired by his father, Joachim Wtewael, whose Caritas of the 1620s (Ibid, A-89) treats both a monkey, a symbol of sensuality and bestiality, and a cat, signifying carnal appetite, in similar poses. Dr. Lowenthal regards the symbolism as more complex than in Joachim’s work of the same title, and thus it is more accurate to describe it as an Allegory of Love (private communication). She further remarks on the use of a patterned floor in this version of the composition, which does not appear in the other pictures listed. This may again have been copied from his father’s work, Jacob and Esau (Ibid, A-90), which also dates from the 1620s.