Temptation

Between 1540 and 1550, the Treviso-born Bordon produced several bust-length versions of the figure of Temptation represented as a woman, her bent arm pressed to her side and her dress falling open to reveal her breasts. In comparison with other versions, the young woman in the Academy’s painting is fuller of figure and is the only version to be accompanied by other figures: an old maidservant at her shoulder and, in the background, looking down from a balcony and gesticulating, a male figure in what appears to be a Biblical or oriental costume and who has, therefore, been identified as King David. According to Italo Faldi, the episode represented is that of Bathsheba at her Bath.
[V. Oodrah]