Upper right corner of a print of the scene of Cebes
From the collection of Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam. Free to download, adapt and use — no permission needed.
Allegory of the path to salvation of man. Life as a city with three walled enclosures, with a temple in the middle. At the outer gate the souls of children wait, ready to enter adult life. Before entering they receive something to drink from Temptation (Seductio), which makes them ignorant. The first walled enclosure shows various distractions and diversions, such as Prejudice (Opinio), Desire (Cupiditas), Doubt (Error) and Ignorance (Ignorantia). They prevent the young man from penetrating further to the next circle. Only by following the personifications of Repentance (Poenitentia), Hope (Spes) and Good Desire (Bonnem Desiderium) can man gain access to the second circle. There he receives instruction in all forms of worldly knowledge. On the left stand the seven liberal arts and on the right various scholars debate. Man is tested in this circle and confronted with false knowledge (Falsa Disciplina).
Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam’s own descriptionSimilar works
Upper right corner of a print of the scene of Cebes
Upper left corner of a print of the scene of Cebes
Upper right corner of a print of the scene of Cebes
Upper right corner of a print of the scene of Cebes
Upper right corner of a print of the scene of Cebes
Upper right corner of a print of the scene of Cebes