Artwork
Temperance
Temperance is an ink print by the Renaissance artist Marcantonio Raimondi. It dates from 1520 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created circa 1520, *Temperance* is an engraving by the Italian printmaker Marcantonio Raimondi. Executed in black and white, the image presents a solitary female figure rendered in fine, intersecting lines that model the drapery and form. The work exemplifies early 16th‑century reproductive printmaking, a medium through which artistic ideas were circulated beyond their original painted contexts.
Subject & Meaning
The composition depicts a woman turned in profile, her body wrapped in flowing robes that cascade in soft folds. One arm is lifted, suggesting she may be holding a ribbon or cloth, a conventional attribute linked to the virtue of temperance. A modest crown or headband crowns her hair, while a faint oval halo behind her head reinforces the allegorical tone.
Technique & Style
Raimondi employs the meticulous line work characteristic of engraving, layering cross‑hatching and stippling to convey texture, volume, and subtle shading. The precision of the incised lines creates a delicate rendering of fabric and flesh, while the darkened background isolates the figure, focusing attention on the controlled, linear aesthetic that typifies the period’s print culture.
History & Provenance
Marcantonio Raimondi built his reputation by reproducing the compositions of Raphael, and *Temperance* reflects that artistic dialogue.
Marcantonio Raimondi built his reputation by reproducing the compositions of Raphael, and *Temperance* reflects that artistic dialogue. The engraving transmits Raphael’s High Renaissance visual language, contributing to its diffusion across Europe. Though specific ownership records are scarce, the print’s survival in several museum collections attests to its role in the early spread of Renaissance ideals through the medium of print.
Artist & collection
Artist
Marcantonio Raimondi, often called simply Marcantonio (c. 1470/82 – c. 1534), was an Italian engraver, known for being the first important printmaker whose body of work consists largely of prints copying paintings. He…
