Salvator Rosa (1615-1673) – Astrea, Goddess of Agriculture and Fertility, Turns Away from Earth and Leaves Scales and Sword to the Shepherds Kunsthistorisches Museum

The composition presents a dramatic scene unfolding across distinct registers of space and light. A female figure, seemingly divine in stature and bearing, ascends through swirling clouds towards an indeterminate upper realm. Her posture is one of resolute departure; her right arm raised as if rejecting the earthly plane, while her left hand relinquishes objects that fall downwards. These discarded items – a set of scales and a sword – appear to be symbolic representations of justice and power, respectively.
Below this ascending figure lies a group of men, arranged in varying degrees of distress and resistance. A bearded man, positioned prominently in the foreground, reaches upwards with considerable force, attempting to restrain the departing woman. His expression conveys a mixture of desperation and defiance. Behind him, other figures are depicted in postures suggesting both supplication and struggle. One figure lies prostrate on the ground, seemingly overwhelmed by the event unfolding above. Another appears to be shielding her face, perhaps from the spectacle or its implications.
The color palette is dominated by earthy tones – browns and ochres – for the lower portion of the scene, contrasting with the lighter blues and whites that characterize the cloudy sky and the ascending figure’s garments. This contrast reinforces the visual separation between the terrestrial and celestial realms. The lighting is dramatic, highlighting key figures and emphasizing the emotional intensity of the moment.
Subtextually, the painting seems to explore themes of abandonment, loss of authority, and a potential crisis in societal order. The departing womans rejection of the scales and sword suggests a withdrawal of divine guidance or protection from human affairs. The men’s attempts to hold her back imply a resistance to this departure, perhaps representing an unwillingness to accept a diminished role for justice and power within their world. The overall impression is one of upheaval and transition, hinting at a potential decline in established values or the end of an era. The depiction of shepherds – implied by the presence of wheat and rustic attire – might suggest that the abandonment affects those closest to the land and traditional ways of life.