Fortitudo c. 17th century

This engraving, titled ‘Fortitudo’, meaning fortitude, was created by an anonymous artist. It depicts a female figure, presumably a personification of fortitude, bearing a large, ornate column, seemingly without strain. This image belongs to a long tradition of allegorical representation, where abstract concepts are given visual form. The virtue of fortitude was especially prized in the 16th and 17th centuries when the work was likely made, a period marked by religious and political upheaval across Europe. Prints like these circulated widely, often carrying moral or political messages. They were collected by elites and were also accessible to a wider public. By studying the visual codes, we can understand how institutions like the church or the state sought to promote particular values and behaviors among the population. To fully understand the print’s meaning, one would delve into emblem books, explore the history of Renaissance and Baroque iconography, and consider the social function of prints in early modern Europe. It is through such research that we can appreciate the rich social and institutional contexts of this small but potent work.