Fortitudo (Fortitude)

Fortitudo (Fortitude)

Sebald Beham

1539

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From the collection of National Gallery of Art

About this work

This is a black-and-white engraving of a strong-looking woman with wings. She’s half-naked, holding a tall column labeled *Fortitudo* with one hand while her other arm rests on her hip. Her hair is messy, like she’s been through something tough, and her muscles are clearly drawn. The word *Fortitudo* means strength in Latin, so this is likely a picture of courage as a person. The artist used sharp lines and shading to make her look powerful. Want to see more like this? Try looking up *engraving*.

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