The Marriage of Labor and Diligence
1572
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1572
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
The Marriage of Labor and Diligence is a 1572 ink by Philip Galle, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This engraving shows five figures standing in a rocky landscape with a distant town. The two women in the center hold hands, wearing simple draped clothes and crowns. The men beside them have long beards, one holding a scroll, the other a staff. A donkey with a soldier on its back stands to the left, labeled "Spes." The background has jagged mountains and a small city. The figures are labeled with Latin words like *Labor* and *Diligence*, hinting at virtues. The artist used fine lines to create texture and depth, especially in the clothing and terrain. Next, look up engraving to see how artists like this made detailed prints with metal plates.
