The Science of War

Influenced by Italian painting, Daniel Gran was one of the first major baroque painters in the German-speaking world.

His allegorical ceiling frescos on war and peace (in the National Library, Vienna) are regarded as his main works.
The Allegory of the Science of War is one of two surviving sketches for the first barrel-vault of the war section.
The central focus is on Vigilance with the crane, and Hygiene with the staff of Aesculapius, pointing towards Political Wisdom. The standard-bearer and the three armed putti represent defence. On the left, a rear-view figure with wheel, cog-wheel and spiral stick in his right hand, symbolises Mechanics. On the right hovers the muscular Genius of Agriculture with plough and scythe. The illusionistic effect of the sky zone is achieved by chiaroscuro painting.