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Prudence

Artus Quellinus the Elderbefore 1666

Royal Palace Amsterdam

Royal Palace Amsterdam
Amsterdam, Netherlands

Prudence has a serpent wound around her arm and holds a mirror in her hand.

Additional information:
Prudence is one of the cardinal virtues. She holds a mirror so that she can see her true face, because a reflection cannot lie. The serpent is an allusion to a passage in the Gospel of Matthew where Christ tells his followers to be as wise as serpents. The city fathers wanted to convey that they managed civic affairs wisely.

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  • Title: Prudence
  • Creator Lifespan: 1609 - 1668
  • Creator Nationality: Flemish
  • Creator Gender: Male
  • Creator Death Place: Antwerp
  • Creator Birth Place: Antwerp
  • Date Created: before 1666
  • Sculptor: Artus Quellinus
  • Place Part Of: Netherlands
  • Display: Amsterdam, Netherlands
  • Description: Plaster and guilded
  • Type: Sculpture
  • Rights: © Stichting Koninklijk Paleis Amsterdam. Photo: Wim Ruigrok., ©Stichting Koninklijk Paleis Amsterdam
Royal Palace Amsterdam

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