Geometria, from The Seven Liberal Arts 1565 - 1575

Johann Sadeler’s print, Geometria, was made in the Netherlands around 1580, and is an engraving on a copper plate. It presents geometry as one of the seven liberal arts, personified by a classically-draped woman. Sadeler was part of a large artistic family, who ran a thriving printmaking business in the Northern Renaissance style. This print, like others in the series, uses classical and allegorical imagery, combining the female figure with geometric instruments. Geometry is shown actively measuring the world, charting both the terrestrial globe and architectural features. Frogs and snakes appear in the foreground. These are symbols of earthly knowledge and nature, showing how geometry can bring order to the natural world. Prints like this were made to circulate ideas and to educate a learned public. They reflect the worldview of a very particular group of people, those who believed in the power of education and rational thought. To learn more, you might consult the print collection here at the Met, or the archives of the Sadeler family business.