This paper focuses on the theory of translation by identifying as its guiding principle not the mere and faithful mimesis of the original text but rather its "interpretatio" and "translatio" by way of imagination and free creativity. In order to understand its dynamics and logics it has been considered the practice of translating from an aesthetic point of view, considering if it can be assimilated to the fine arts or artistic practices, and verifying the relationship that it possibly maintains with the iconic genres,of which it represents the linguistic and literary counterpart. At issue is obviously the relationship between truth and beauty: the case of the philosophical translation is exemplary to show how they both are required to find a compromise in order to give way to a translation that might be good - that is, true and correct - as well as beautiful.