Artwork
Temperancia (Temperance)
Temperancia (Temperance) is an ink print by the Renaissance artist Lucas van Leyden. It dates from 1530 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Lucas van Leyden's 'Temperancia' is an engraving created in 1530, exemplifying his technical skill as a Dutch printmaker.
Subject & Meaning
The engraving depicts a barefoot woman with a bowl and a small bird, accompanied by a winged figure balancing plates, symbolizing the virtue of temperance, a common Renaissance theme.
Technique & Style
Van Leyden employed fine lines and shading to achieve depth in the black-and-white composition, characteristic of his engraving technique.
Context
As one of the early Dutch practitioners of genre painting, van Leyden's work reflects the artistic trends of his time, with 'Temperancia' being a representation of a moral virtue.
Artist & collection
Artist
Lucas van Leyden (1494 – 8 August 1533), was a Dutch painter and printmaker in engraving and woodcut. Lucas van Leyden was among the first Dutch exponents of genre painting and was a very accomplished engraver.
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