The cardinal virtue of Prudence represented by a seated woman holding a snake in her right hand (possibly a modern impression) 1475 - 1485

This anonymous engraving, created sometime between 1475 and 1485, depicts the cardinal virtue of Prudence. The seated woman, draped in a voluminous robe, holds a snake in her right hand, a common symbol of wisdom. The engraving's detailed lines and chiaroscuro technique, characteristic of the Italian Renaissance, lend a sense of depth and realism to the figure. The artwork, currently housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, exemplifies the period's focus on moral themes and classical imagery.