Moral Emblems: Hope

Engraving, part of a set of 20 moral emblems, each designated by a letter of the alphabet. The set was designed by Jean Delaune and engraved by his father, Étienne Delaune, in 1580. It explores the theme of vanity in mundane things, denouncing the artifices of the world (beauty, pleasure, luxury...), and praising virtue. This print represents a palace where several figures stroll, wearing contemporary costumes. In the first plane, on the left, under a canopy, stands a woman, likely a personification of virtue, wearing a figure-hugging dress with a floral pattern made up of fleurs de lis. An anchor lies at her feet, a symbol of hope. An ewer stands on the floor by her side, associating her, as well, with temperance, caution and patience. She holds a book in her hand, linking her, additionally, with philosophy, theology, religion, justice, wisdom, and truth. The almost naked figure of the woman represents the ideal and the intelligible, in contrast with the physical and the sensible. The fleurs de lis on her dress are a symbol of purity and virtue, but also an allusion to France. On the right, a "philosopher" stands holding a book on his left arm, and raising the right hand towrds the sky, likely denouncing the vices of the world.