An Allegory of Wisdom and the Arts

1750/1755

Franz Karl Palko

Associated Names
Franz Karl Palko

Artist, Czech, 1724 - 1767/1770

This is a drawing of a mythical and architectural scene. Figures are arranged around a large architectural structure. Atop the structure is a column capped with a statue or bust, and a group of figures, including some engaged in activities related to celestial objects, such as manipulating an armillary sphere or holding tools like compasses. Above them, more figures appear to hover in or descend from the sky, with clouds surrounding them. The drawing is detailed with a remarkable use of shade and line, giving a sense of movement and interaction among the figures.

Media Options

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    pen and brown ink with gray wash and touches of black chalk over graphite on laid paper, adhered to an historic mount

  • Credit Line

    Wolfgang Ratjen Collection, Patrons' Permanent Fund

  • Dimensions

    sheet: 34.3 x 28.5 cm (13 1/2 x 11 1/4 in.)

  • Accession Number

    2007.111.138

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

Princes of Liechtenstein, Vienna and Vaduz (Lugt 4398). Richard Tüngel [1893-1970], Ahrensburg. Wolfgang Ratjen, Munich; purchased 2007 by NGA.

Associated Names

Exhibition History

1965

  • Zeichnungen alter Meister aus deutschem Privatbesitz, Hamburger Kunsthalle, 1965: 25, no. 98, pl. 51.

1989

  • Franz Karl Palko (1724-1767), Ölskizzen, Zeichnungen und Druckgraphik, Salzburger Barockmuseum, 1989, 70, no. 18 (Pavel Preiss).

2010

  • German Master Drawings from the Wolfgang Ratjen Collection, 1580 - 1900, NGA, 2010: 19, 34, no. 26.

Bibliography

1966

  • Geissler, Heinrich. Review of Zeichnungen alter Meister aus deutschem Privatbesitz. Kunstchronik, vol. 19, no. 6 (June 1966): 161.

1975

  • Preiss, Pavel. "Franz Karl Palko als Zeichner." Bulletin du Musée Hongrois des Beaux Arts 45 (1975): 80, 82 note 53.

1977

  • Preiss, Pavel. "Sur l'allégorie profane à l'époque des Lumières en Europe centrale" Actes du Troisième Colloque des Lumières, Budapest, 1977: 341-342.

1993

  • Preiss, Pavel. "Franz Karl Palko als Hofmaler in Dresden--Pictor regis Poloniae, Cechy a Sasko v promenácg dejin." In _Acta Universitatis Purkynianae. Philosophica et historica I. Usti nad Labem, 1993: 410, 424 note 18.

1999

  • Preiss, Pavel. František Karel Palko: Život a dílo malíre sklonku stredoevropského baroka a jeho bratra Františka Antonína Palka. Prague, 1999: 86, fig. 64, 101-102, 302.

2005

  • Preiss, Pavel. "An Unpublished Galileo Drawing by Fanz Karl Palko: A Few Remarks." Yale University Art Gallery Bulletin (2005): 118-119, fig. 2.

Inscriptions

at bottom left in graphite: Carl Palko; verso, at center in graphite: 112; at bottom right in brown ink: Carl Palko. 1 St[?] 30

Watermarks

crozier (partial)

Wikidata ID

Q64570512

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