Prudentia 1494

drawing

portrait

drawing

allegories

amateur sketch

symbol

pen illustration

pen sketch

incomplete sketchy

linework heavy

sketchwork

ink drawing experimentation

detailed observational sketch

sketch

pen-ink sketch

female-portraits

initial sketch

"Prudentia" is a pen and ink drawing by the renowned German Renaissance artist, Albrecht Dürer, dated 1494. The artwork, housed in the Louvre Museum, Paris, depicts the personified virtue of Prudence. The figure, shown in profile, is dressed in flowing robes, holding a mirror and a lit candle, symbolizing introspection and wisdom. At her feet lies a sleeping dragon, representing overcome evil and the triumph of reason over temptation. This piece, a masterful example of Dürer's early work, showcases his precise linework and intricate detail, further emphasizing the importance of prudence.