Artwork
Fortitudo
Fortitudo is an ink print by the Renaissance artist Master IB. It dates from 1516 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Fortitudo is a black‑and‑white engraving produced in 1516 and attributed to the anonymous artist known as Master IB. Executed on a single plate, the print measures roughly a modest size typical of early sixteenth‑century intaglio works. Its title, placed at the top of the composition, identifies the theme of strength and serves as a guide to interpreting the scene.
Subject & Meaning
The image presents a partially draped female figure seated upon a rock, grasping a lion’s mane with one hand while supporting a shield emblazoned with an obscure emblem. A crown bearing a cross rests upon her head, linking the figure to notions of authority and virtue. Behind her, a tranquil settlement with a church tower rises from a hill, juxtaposing martial vigor with civic calm.
Technique & Style
Rendered through fine line engraving, the work relies on hatching and cross‑hatching to model volume and convey the texture of skin, fur, and stone. The crisp delineation of the lion’s mane and the delicate rendering of the distant architecture demonstrate the artist’s command of tonal gradation within the constraints of monochrome printmaking.
History & Provenance
Its attribution to Master IB stems from stylistic comparison with other signed works by the same hand, though the artist’s true identity remains unknown.
The print first appears in early catalogues of Northern European engravings, where it was listed under the Latin title Fortitudo. Its attribution to Master IB stems from stylistic comparison with other signed works by the same hand, though the artist’s true identity remains unknown. Surviving impressions are held in several major museum collections, confirming its circulation among collectors of the period.
Context
Created during the Renaissance, the engraving reflects contemporary allegorical conventions that personified abstract virtues. The combination of a crowned female allegory, a lion, and a shield aligns with iconography used in civic and military propaganda, while the serene townscape hints at the protective role of strength over community life.
Legacy
Fortitudo continues to be cited in scholarly discussions of early print culture as an example of how engravers conveyed complex moral ideas through compact visual narratives. Its preservation in institutional holdings ensures that the work remains a reference point for studies of allegorical representation in early sixteenth‑century graphic art.
Artist & collection
