Embleem met allegorie op vuur 1681 - 1737

"Embleem met allegorie op vuur" (1681-1737) by François van Bleyswijck is a copperplate engraving that exemplifies the allegorical style of the Dutch Golden Age. The image depicts a female figure standing before a burning brazier, symbolizing fire. The figure is likely a representation of Egeria, a nymph in Roman mythology who was said to have inspired the Roman king Numa Pompilius. The print's inscription references this myth, emphasizing the theme of warmth and inspiration. The overall composition, with its ornate frame and the juxtaposition of text and image, is characteristic of emblem books, which were popular throughout the 17th and 18th centuries.