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Melancholic Temperament
Public domain

Melancholic Temperament

Raphaël Sadeler (I) · 1583 · plakken; engraving; hand coloring; paper; parchment (animal material)

From the collection of Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam. Free to download, adapt and use — no permission needed.

About this work

A naked woman with long hair sits wringing her hands before a dead tree. She personifies people with a melancholic temperament. In front of her lies a dead naked man on the ground. Around them lies broken household goods, including pottery. In the background to the right, some abandoned houses. In the background to the left, a charlatan on a podium in front of an inn. At the top left, center, and right the zodiac signs: Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn, which correspond to the element earth. Below the image a four-line poem in Latin. This print is part of an album.

Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam’s own description
Credit lineMelancholisch temperament. 1583. Raphaël Sadeler (I). Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam. Public domain.

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