Storytelling in Miniature

After Heinrich Aldegrever
German, 1502–about 1561

Pax (Peace)

Engraving, 1586
2 3/4 x 1 15/16 in.
Gift of Carl B. Spitzer, 1938.51

Dated 1586, this print is a copy by an unknown artist after the original produced in 1549 by Heinrich Aldegrever. It is a mirror image of the original design which was part of a series of representations of vices and virtues. In the original, the female personification of Pax (Peace) is shown in a frontal view with the head in profile to the right, holding what appear to be lilies of the valley in her left hand while supporting a cornucopia with her right. This print is further altered as, at some time in its existence, someone applied hand drawn drapery covering the figure’s breasts.