Allegory of Vice (Correggio)

The Allegory of Vice, also sometimes referred to as Vice, is a painting by the Italian Renaissance artist Antonio da Correggio, created circa 1531. It forms a diptych with Allegory of Virtue. Both paintings were commissioned by Isabella d'Este for her studiolo (private study) in the Ducal Palace of Mantua.

The Allegory of Vice depicts a scene of revelry and indulgence, dominated by figures engaged in various pleasurable and often chaotic activities. Specific interpretations of the figures and symbolism vary among art historians, but the overall theme is generally understood to represent the destructive and self-defeating nature of vice. It stands in stark contrast to its companion piece, the Allegory of Virtue, which embodies order, reason, and moral strength.

While a definitive, universally agreed-upon interpretation of each element within the painting remains elusive, scholars often point to figures representing sloth, lust, gluttony, and other vices. The composition, with its swirling movement and dynamic figures, contributes to a sense of unrestrained energy and moral decay.

The painting's current location is the Louvre Museum in Paris. It remains a significant example of Correggio's artistic style and his contribution to the development of Mannerism in Italian painting. The diptych offers a complex visual meditation on the choices between virtuous and vicious paths in life, reflecting the intellectual and humanist interests of its patron, Isabella d'Este.