Augsburg, Staats- und Stadtbibliothek — Th H 1475. Digital Reproduction: München, Bayerische Staatsbibliothek, 2015.
Molanus discusses the existence of another category between sacred and pagan art: moral art, which he deems useful to people’s education.
“Even if they come to us from the pagans, the images which educate morals and incite virtue contribute to our education. They deserve to be called moral, and they stand between sacred and profane images, which is why it has never been useless to consider them. Ludovicus Coelius, in his Lectiones antiquae, book XIX, and Aulu-Gelle in The Attic Nights, book XIV, chap. 4, deal with the way in which Justice is usually portrayed; The way in which the image of Discord is normally painted, which Petronius Arbiter describes in the most elegant verses, in Crinitus book XIII, chapter 2. How Concord, how Love, how Envy, and the like, which have also been observed by the ancients.”
“Propius enim ad nostrum institutum accedunt eae picturae, quae tamersi ab Ethnicis acceptae, mores tamen formant, atque ad virtutem instigant. Hae enim ethicae dici merentur et medium locum occupant inter prophanas et sacras. Quare eiuscemodi observare non fuerit inutile. Quo modo videlicet Iustitia depingi soleat, de quo Ludovicus Coelius lect. antiq. Lib. 29 capite 26. et Agellius Noctium Attic. Liber 14. capite Quarto. Quae soleat esse discordiae imago, quam elegantissimis versibus describit Petronius Arbiter, apud Crinitum lib. 13. capitte secundo. Quae concordiae, quae amoris, quae invidiae, ac similium: quae etiam Veteres observarunt: Unde Petrus Chrysologus, frequenter fieri vidimis, ubi Regum vel fratrum tabulae pinguntur, ut in utrisque unanimitatis declarentur insignia, artifex pictor foemineo habitu post tergum utriusque concordiam statuit, brachiis suis utrumque complectentem, indicans quod hi, qui corporibus videntur separati, sententiis et voluntate conveniant. Utilis rursum etiam et ethica significatio eruit potest ex depicta collucatione araneae cum musca, apis cum fuco, formicae cum grano triticeo, ac similium, quare eiuscemodi suo loco aliquando non male depinguntur. “
Molanus 1996, 301-302.
