Aristotle and Phyllis: the development of an iconographic theme in northern Europe, 1200-1550

The story of Aristotle and Phyllis was an extremely popular subject for artists of the later Middle Ages and the Renaissance. Following the tale's first appearance in Europe early in the thirteenth century, it was often represented in religious art as a serious moralizing tale, However, in the course of the following two centuries the theme's interpretation evolved, and it received a secular, satiric treatment by the artists of the Renaissance. A study of this evolution, along with the origins and variations--both literary and artistic--of the tale of Aristotle and Phyllis, demonstrates the exploitation of the expressive possibilities of a single image by artists of succeeding generations. Responding to their specific environments, artists' interpretations of the theme vary from a warning against the dangers of carnal love to a humorous expression of folly.