Description
Painted around 1505 by Venetian master Lorenzo Lotto, Allegory of Chastity is a thoughtful and imaginative depiction of moral virtue. At the center sits a serene young woman—representing chastity—reclining beneath a laurel tree, a symbol of honor and poetic excellence. Around her, mythological figures and natural elements suggest the competing forces of desire and restraint.
Typical of Lotto’s style, the composition is rich with psychological depth and emotional subtlety, blending symbolism with human feeling. The rocky setting and pastoral background reflect both physical isolation and spiritual strength, while the surrounding figures reference classical allegories of temptation, fame, and sensuality.
