The personifications of Painting and Poetry embrace for a kiss, representing the relationship that the two arts have with one another. Painting has one breast exposed, holds brushes and a palette in one hand, and a mask in the other, representing how painting is imitation of Nature. Poetry holds a pen and her inkwell rests upon a scroll that reads “CONCORDI LVMINE MAIOR,” meaning “Concord is stronger than light.”
See Martijn Caspar Swart’s painting based on this and a print gifted to him by his teacher Odd Nerdrum. Swart’s exhibition is up now at Figure Ground Art Gallery – read the review: https://medium.com/figure-ground-art-review/the-art-of-martijn-caspar-swart-making-light-in-the-dark-4cbac0bed5a4
