Vrouw als personificatie van Kracht (Fortitudo) leunend op zuil staand in nis 1510 - 1527

Marcantonio Raimondi created this print of a female figure embodying strength, or Fortitude, leaning on a column, sometime between 1505 and 1527. This Italian print revives classical imagery, but its meaning is rooted in its own time. Figures like Fortitude played a key role in Renaissance political thought. They served as visual models for rulers and citizens and embodied ideals of leadership and civic virtue. Strength, in this sense, wasn't just physical. It represented moral courage, the ability to overcome adversity, and the resilience of a well-governed state. The print’s composition places Fortitude within a niche, emphasizing her status as a figure of veneration. The column she leans on symbolizes stability and support, further reinforcing her role as a pillar of strength. By studying prints and other artworks of this period, alongside philosophical texts and political treatises, we gain insight into how societies used images to define their values and aspirations.