The Ship of Fortune

In his book Der Zee-Vaert Lof (In Praise of Navigation), Elias Herckmans contends that Dutch maritime trade flourishes best in times of peace. In chapter three, he discusses the Pax Romana (Roman Peace). Rembrandt made a book illustration for this, in which he sums up the entire chapter. The nude female figure on the ship is Fortuna, prosperity, which favours sea trade when peace prevails.