Detail from La Via Veritas

Detail from La Via Veritas

Detail from La Via Veritas

Various sins and temptations can derail a sinner from the road to heaven. The row of dancers is obvious but for the modern viewer some of the other allegories are harder to read: the three next to the violinist represent respectively pride, lust, and avarice. Note the people in the trees above โ€” not so much sinning by stealing than literally picking forbidden fruit. To the left of the violinist, a Dominican priest takes confessions.

Allegory of the Active and Triumphant Church and of the Dominican order, or La Via Veritas in the Spanish Chapel of Santa Maria Novella in Florence

About the Author

Henk Bekker is a European travel writer specializing in transportation, cultural destinations, and practical travel advice for visitors to Europe. His work focuses on clear, up-to-date guides that simplify complex travel systems such as public transportation, tickets, and routes.