An Exemplary Humanist Hybrid: Vasari's “Fraude” with Reference to Bronzino's “Sphinx”
John F. Moffitt
In an article recently published in this journal, I argued that a certain, often discussed, hybrid encountered Bronzino's wellknown painting depicting The Exposure of Luxury (ca. 1545, National Gallery, London; also known as Venus, Cupid, Folly, and Time) was actually intended to represent “sphinx” [fig. 1]. Whatever its proper designation, is the bizarre figure may be espied lurking darkness (as much metaphorical physical), just she/it placed middle ground far right side carefully contrived composition 2]. This darkly crouching creature situated by ingenious painter behind brightly illuminated nude joyful putto tossing roses, so making it literally hidden (occulta).
Renaissance Quarterly