1559
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Prudence is a 1559 ink by Philip Galle, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This crowded scene shows a woman holding a mirror in the center, surrounded by people doing different jobs—some reading, others cooking, building, or carrying tools. The background has a ship, a house, and clouds with faces, while the foreground piles up tools, baskets, and barrels. Latin text runs along the bottom, and the whole image is drawn with fine, dark lines. The woman’s mirror might symbolize looking ahead, while the busy figures represent the many skills needed for a good future. The artist packed in tiny details to show how everything connects. Next, check out how engraving works to see how these sharp lines were made.
Philip (or Philips) Galle (1537 – March 1612) was a Dutch publisher, best known for publishing old master prints, which he also produced as designer and engraver. He is especially known for his reproductive engravings of paintings.
See the richer artist page
