Allegory of the Course of Human Life (Choosing Virtue) 1570

"Allegory of the Course of Human Life (Choosing Virtue)" is a pen and brown ink drawing by Jan van der Straet, called Stradanus, created sometime in the late 16th century. Stradanus was a Flemish artist working in Florence, and he made this drawing in that period, steeped in the traditions of Renaissance humanism and Christian morality. In the image, we witness an archer, set against a fiery landscape, aiming at figures in the sky. A procession of women approaches, embodying different aspects of human experience, as they lead a horse-drawn carriage. The figures represent different aspects of choice, from the blazing fire of youthful temptation to the rewards of virtue. The artist asks us to consider our journey through life, fraught with choices that define our path. The drawing invites reflection on how we navigate worldly temptations and aspire to higher ideals. It captures a deeply personal and emotional struggle, reflecting the values and anxieties of Stradanus's time.