Folly (Latin: Moria) was a common allegorical figure in medieval morality plays and in allegorical artwork through the Renaissance. The depiction is generally of a young man, often similar in appearance to a jester or the tarot card, The Fool.[1] In contrast to the many obvious classical allusions in such works, the depictions owe little to the Greek goddess Atë.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/dc/Quentin_Massys_030.jpg/220px-Quentin_Massys_030.jpg)
In drama, the character tempts the protagonist into foolish action, successfully or not. In an allegorical painting, the figure may be counterpoised to Prudence, representing a choice, or alone, representing the unwisdom of the actors in the painting.
See also
edit- In Praise of Folly; the article contains an allegoric drawing of Folly
- Venus, Cupid, Folly and Time, allegorical painting by Agnolo Bronzino
Notes
edit- ^ Mackay, Constance D'Arcy (1915). Costumes and Scenery for Amateurs. Henry Holt and Company. p. 197.
References
edited. A.W. Ward; A.R. Waller; W.P. Trent; J. Erskine; S.P. Sherman & C. Van Doren. "Sir David Lyndsay". The Cambridge history of English and American literature: An encyclopedia in eighteen volumes. Vol. III. {{cite book}}
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