Jacopo da Empoli, Temperance, Oil on Canvas, Late 16th Century, Framed

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Jacopo da empoli (florence, italy, 1551 – 1640)
title: temperance
medium: oil on canvas
dimensions: without frame 101.5 x 75.7 … Read more Jacopo da empoli (florence, italy, 1551 – 1640)
title: temperance
medium: oil on canvas
dimensions: without frame 101.5 x 75.7 cm – with frame 140 x 115.3 x 10.50 cm
not signed

expertise by alessandro nesi, art historian

fairs: the international biennial of antiques in florence 2024 (biaf, biennale internazionale dell’antiquariato di firenze)

exhibitions: g7 - sette secoli di arte italiana (g7 - seven centuries of italian art), exhibition curated by pierluigi carofano, from 13 june to 30 november 2024 (extended until 7 february 2025), castle of mesagne, brindisi (puglia), italy.

publications: g7 - sette secoli di arte italiana, exhibition catalogue curated by pierluigi carofano, (from 13 june to 30 november 2024), brindisi (puglia), castle of mesagne, pp. 72-73.

jacopo da empoli (1551-1640), also known as jacopo chimenti, was an italian painter mostly active in florence where he trained in the workshop of maso da san friano (1531-1571). His painting is mainly inspired by the early masters of the 16th century and to a popular and devout art. The young woman depicted in the painting is the personification of temperance, one of the four cardinal virtues, the others being prudence, justice and fortitude. Temperance refers to the practice of self- control, abstention, discretion, and moderation. In art the cardinal virtues are depicted with symbolic items and among the symbols representing temperance there is water and wine in two jugs. And that’s exactly what is represented in this painting. A young woman pours water from a jug into a bowl filled with wine. This is a reference to the classical world, when winemaking produced a thick, liqueur-like wine, and water was added to dilute it. It is a work of exquisite quality and, moreover, very rare and important, as few paintings of profane subjects by jacopo da empoli have come down to us. The painting still has its original carved and ivory lacquered wooden frame. It is a frame that matches very well with the tones of the canvas itself. See less