Justice, frontispiece from the "Seven Deadly Sins" 1545 - 1560

"Justice," a 16th-century engraving by Léon Davent, depicts the allegorical figure of Justice as a woman, standing triumphantly atop a globe and holding scales in one hand and a sword in the other. Surrounding her are figures representing the seven deadly sins, bound and defeated beneath her. This intricate artwork, likely part of a larger series, highlights the moral themes of the period and Davent's mastery of detail. The composition, with its circular frame and strong central figure, emphasizes the dominance of Justice over the temptations of sin, a concept that resonated with viewers of the time. The engraving, now housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, is a testament to the artistic and intellectual pursuits of the Renaissance period.