Een zevental hoedanigheden / Ziet gy hier trap by trap bekleden, / Als pligten, eigen aan de deugd / En Godsdienst neem ze in acht, ô jeugd! 1806 - 1830

This print, titled "A Set of Seven Qualities," was made by A. Robyn, though we don't know exactly when. The work allegorically visualizes the values of faith, hope, charity, justice, prudence, temperance, and fortitude, presenting them as a series of figures arranged, step-by-step, as attributes of virtue. Made in the Netherlands, the image and its didactic verse below are very much of their time, reflecting the cultural importance of the Protestant Reformation. During this period, the Netherlands saw a blossoming of printed material intended for a wide audience, including moralizing emblems like this. The print's imagery borrows from long-standing traditions of iconographic symbolism, but it also serves to reinforce social norms and religious teachings. As art historians, we can turn to resources like period sermons, primers, and emblem books to understand the specific meanings these symbols held for their original audience. Through this research, we can come to understand the complex interplay between art, belief, and social life in the past.