Border Illustration with Heaven and Hell "Corpora S.S."
1613
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1613
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This picture shows a blank rectangular frame with two sides. On the left, three muscular men climb upward, pulling each other toward the top. On the right, three women float down, arms outstretched. Below the frame, a group of people lie tangled in what looks like flames or smoke. Above, clouds and a sunburst sit at the top. The word *"Corpora"* is written near the bottom, and the scene splits into two clear halves—one for ascent, one for descent. This was made as a proof print before the final version, so the details are sharp but the text is missing. Next, check out engraving to see how artists like this carved intricate lines into metal plates.
