Allegory of America, from the Four Continents

17th century

Not on view

This unusual male allegorical figure of the New World belongs to a set of drawings of Allegories of the Four Continents. The drawings likely served as preliminary designs for tapestries. The other three allegorical figures are represented as women; and, the tapestries and related paintings include a female figure of America as well. Maes’s allegory of America follows a visual tradition which derives from the Italian humanist Cesare Ripa’s Iconologia (1603). As seen in Ripa, Maes shows America wearing a feather headdress, carrying a bow and arrow, and stalked by an alligator. In the bottom register are a tropical parrot and a putto wearing a gold-filled pack and smoking tobacco, popular imports from the New World.

Artwork Details

Title: Allegory of America, from the Four Continents
Artist: Godfried Maes (Antwerp 1649–1700 Antwerp)
Date: 17th century
Medium: Pen and gray ink, brush and gray wash, over black chalk
Dimensions: sheet: 10 1/2 x 8 3/16in. (26.7 x 20.8cm)
Classification: Drawings
Credit Line: Gift of the Estate of James Hazen Hyde, 1959
Object Number: 1974.201
Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints

More Artwork

By Godfried Maes

In the same medium

From the same time and place

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Death on a Canopied Throne (Design for a Title Page), Godfried Maes Flemish, Pen and brown ink, brush and gray wash, touches of white gouache, over black chalk. Laid down on heavy paper mount. Incised (?). — Death on a Canopied Throne (Design for a Title Page)
Godfried Maes
late 17th century

Allegory of Asia, from the Four Continents, Godfried Maes Flemish, Pen and gray and brown ink, brush and gray wash — Allegory of Asia, from the Four Continents
Godfried Maes
17th century

Allegory of Africa, from the Four Continents, Godfried Maes Flemish, Pen and gray and brown ink, brush and gray wash — Allegory of Africa, from the Four Continents
Godfried Maes
17th century

Allegory of Europe, from the Four Continents, Godfried Maes Flemish, Pen and gray ink, brush and gray wash — Allegory of Europe, from the Four Continents
Godfried Maes
17th century

Jupiter and Io, from "The Metamorphoses of Ovid", Godfried Maes Flemish, Black chalk, pen and brown ink, brush and brown and gray wash — Jupiter and Io, from "The Metamorphoses of Ovid"
Godfried Maes
late 17th century

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