Temperance
1530
Lucas van Leyden was such a prodigy that Albrecht Dürer traveled specifically to meet him, and this 1530 engraving shows why. The figure represents Temperance, carefully mixing water into wine—a classic symbol of moderation and 'knowing your limits' at a banquet. A cherub hovers above with a crown, hinting that self-control leads to glory, while the 'L' at the bottom signs off the work. It’s a beautiful reminder that even in the Renaissance, people needed advice on not drinking too much!
- Technique
- Engraving
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