Artwork
The Seven Virtues: Justice
The Seven Virtues: Justice is a print by the Renaissance artist Hans Burgkmair the Elder. It dates from 1510 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
Hans Burgkmair’s 1510 print titled *The Seven Virtues: Justice* is part of a larger series illustrating moral qualities. The work is in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art and presents an allegorical figure embodying the concept of justice through a combination of martial and judicial symbols.
Subject & Meaning
The central figure is a female personification dressed in full armor, holding a sword and a round shield that bears a set of scales. The absence of a helmet, replaced by a crown, emphasizes her authority. An inscription encircles the image, reading “Die Gerichtskal,” a reference to the scale of judgment, underscoring the theme of fairness.
Technique & Style
Executed as a black‑and‑white drawing, the print relies on line work and hatching to render the intricate details of the armor and the delicate balance of the scales. Burgkmair’s approach reflects the Northern Renaissance interest in precise, symbolic representation, using contrast to highlight the figure’s dual role as warrior and arbiter.
History & Provenance
Created in the early sixteenth century, the print was produced during Burgkmair’s prolific period of moral and religious series. It entered the Cleveland Museum of Art’s holdings through acquisition in the twentieth century, where it remains a documented example of the artist’s engagement with allegorical subjects.
Artist & collection
Artist
Hans Burgkmair the Elder (1473–1531) was a German artist, born in Augsburg.
