Hope c. 1470 - 1480

Francesco Francia etched this delicate image of 'Hope' around the turn of the 16th century. We see a figure, eyes downcast, hands clasped in quiet anticipation, a scroll unfurling above her head bearing her name. This Hope is not merely a virtue, but a posture, a way of being in the world. We see echoes of this figure in ancient depictions of Spes, the Roman goddess of hope, often shown holding flowers, emblems of growth and renewal. Yet, in Francia's rendering, there's a poignant stillness. The downcast eyes, the folded hands, suggest a deeper, more internalized emotion. Across centuries, this gesture of clasped hands resurfaces in various guises—in devotional images of Mary, in portraits of pious donors. It speaks to a collective memory, a shared understanding of hope as both a solace and a burden. This symbol reminds us that hope is a powerful force, constantly evolving, yet eternally rooted in the human psyche.