Allegory of the Fine Arts

The Muses are often associated with the Seven Liberal Arts, or with the Arts and Sciences in general, being considered the guardians of these. In the pictorial rendering, they symbolise the known fields of knowledge and the creative attributes of mankind. In an oval design, possibly intended for a wall panel and created by an unknown Austrian artist from the circle of Hans Makart (1840–1884), the female personifications of the fine arts are woven into a cloud-scape.
In the lower semicircle of this quick sketch, their attributes show them as Architecture (plan and model) and, on a band of cloud above, Painting (palette and painting) and Sculpture (bust). Hovering above is the soft sound of Music, accompanied by a winged figure pointing the way.

Translated catalogue text from:
Habersatter Thomas: Die Musen. In: Astrid Ducke: Der Kuss der Musen. Festspiele göttlicher Inspiration. Residenzgalerie Salzburg. Salzburg 2020, S. 17-23, Österreichisch, Allegorie der Schönen Künste, S. 22, Abb. 13, S. 22

Translation: Gail Schamberger MA, Salzburg