The Man's Choice

Cristina E. Prato Bello.
Assignment: Final draft.
“Allegory Of a Man's Choice Between Virtue and Vice”(1635)
Frans Francken the younger.
The Man’s Choice

As an international freshman student this was my first time visiting the Museum of Fine Arts. The first thing that caught my attention was the Museum’s space distribution, its cleanness, modernity and light. Therefore, my first emotionwas of curiosity. I wanted to know, discover and experience its content; leading me to browse and check European Art. After being amazed by how pretty, fresh and well organized were all the rooms, I found several pieces that intrigued me, but I only found one that made me think and relate to its essence. It is a work of art that “speaks” of principles and values represented in three realms: heaven,earth and underworld. “Allegory Of a Man's Choice Between Virtue and Vice” is a painting created by Frans Francken “the younger” around 1635.
The painter, Frans Francken, is well known for his cabinet-size portraits, where he included in most of his paintings biblical, historical, mythological and religious subjects (Frans Francken the Younger.) This artist introduced new things to the waypeople painted in 1600’s, it intrigued me how he usually used biblical and mythological themes together and portrayed paintings with a deep insightful meaning. I relate mostly with him with his famous image “Allegory of a Man’s Choice Between Virtue and Vice” because it depicts a daily life man’s decision-making and its consequences with just a work of art. In addition, this painting tries to combineheaven’s way of persuading mankind to be good –so at the end one end up in the right path made of good choices– and the underworld’s way to dissuade its audience to go to hell.
It is important to know that the painter, Frans Francken was a catholic. The Catholic religion in Western Europe has always been an influential and persuasive type of belief. At that time the Church (religion), who not onlyestablished the dogmas of faith, religious norms, punishment, forgiveness, but also directly influenced governments. Therefore, staying in control of civil and religious sectors, such that the Church was able to persuade the community to agree upon the churches total control. Hence, continuously being the dominant religion in that location.
“In various ways it has sought to affect Westernattitudes to vice and virtue in diverse fields”( Role of the Catholic Church in Western Civilization.) In general, the Catholic Church taught people what was the right thing to do; it even was authoritarian over people who believed and did not believe in God, and was an influential institution gaining more people to join. During this period of the churches reign of power, Frans Francken’s intention wasto draw attention to catholic’s moral principles and values. The painter, Francken, had a vast number of viewers making the meaning of the painting vary from person to person according to past life experiences. Hence, this image is directed to all humanity and its general symbol is to gain knowledge of moral ways of acting and the rewards you will gain or the penalties you will receive if youchoose the wrong path.
Shown at the top of the image, rests heaven’s main entrance. It is represented in a way that you feel warmth, invitation, tranquility, and serenity. The first thing that captures your eyes, are the angels, the light and the clouds. Somehow, the painting is accenting heaven as a persuasive place that most virtuous people would want to be part of. It seems as if it’s callingone’s name to join and be a part of it; and feel peace and happiness. Most Catholics can see and relate to this form of the sky where no bad can enter and everything feels fine and even perfect.

VirtueThe good side (left) |
Figure | Allegorical Meaning |
Minerva | Wisdom |
Hope | Trust, optimism |
Faith | Confidence, belief |
Charity | Giving |
Shepherd...