Virtue and Nobility Putting Ignorance to Flight
Painting, formerly a ceiling fresco (transferred to canvas) • Giovanni Battista Tiepolo (Italian, 1696–1770)
Style & Movement
Rococo / Venetian School
Medium & Technique
Oil on canvas (originally executed in a style imitating fresco). Technique involves luminous glazing, airy brushwork, and 'di sotto in sù' (seen from below) perspective.
Creation Period
c. 1745-1750
Dimensions & Format
Approximately 10 feet x 6 feet (317.5 x 193 cm); Vertical format with shaped top corners.
Subject Description
An allegorical scene depicting Virtue and Nobility as ethereal female figures in the clouds. They are accompanied by putti and personifications, driving away the dark, earthbound figure of Ignorance. Iconographic symbols include the laurel wreath (victory/virtue) and the trumpet of Fame.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Excellent (as currently held in the Norton Simon Collection); stable following its historical transfer from its original ceiling location.
Estimated Market Value
$15,000,000 - $25,000,000 (Based on the rarity of major Tiepolo allegories and museum-tier provenance).
Auction Estimate
$12,000,000 - $20,000,000
Provenance History
Originally commissioned for the Palazzo Barbarigo in Venice; later part of the collection of Pietro Accorsi, Turin; acquired by Norton Simon in 1968.
Art Historical Significance
A masterpiece of Venetian Rococo, this work showcases Tiepolo's mastery of celestial light and 'sfumato' in a secular allegorical context. It is a prime example of the 18th-century Venetian tradition of grand ceiling decoration.
Notable Features
The dramatic foreshortening and vibrant palette of lapis blue, gold, and coral are hallmarks of Tiepolo's mid-career 'grand manner' style.
Condition Issues
Common to transferred frescoes, there may be slight flattening of the paint surface and minor historic 'craquelure' resulting from the 19th-century removal from its original architectural setting.
Conservation Recommendations
Maintain strictly controlled humidity (45-55%) and UV-filtered lighting to prevent pigment fading. Periodic inspection for tension stability on its current stretcher.
Collector Notes
In book of Norton Simon Museum