Hope, from The Virtues

Art Historical Context

**Hope, from *The Virtues*** *Jacob Matham, c. 1593* *Engraving on ivory laid paper* *Plate: 21.4 × 14.3 cm (8 7/16 × 5 11/16 in.); Sheet: 25 × 17.8 cm (9 7/8 × 7 1/16 in.)* *Art Institute of Chicago, Prints and Drawings Department* Jacob Matham, a prominent Dutch engraver active in Haarlem during the late 16th century, crafted *Hope, from The Virtues* as part of a series personifying cardinal virtues. Produced around 1593, this engraving reflects the Northern Mannerist style prevalent in the Netherlands, characterized by elegant lines, intricate details, and allegorical depth. Matham, trained under master Hendrick Goltzius, excelled in translating complex designs into precise prints, making moral and symbolic imagery accessible to a wide audience amid the cultural flourishing of the Dutch Golden Age's early stirrings. The medium—engraving on fine ivory laid paper—highlights the technical virtuosity of the era. Ivory paper, prized for its smooth texture and subtle sheen, enhanced the print's luminosity and fine gradations, ideal for intaglio techniques where ink clings to incised lines on a copper plate. At roughly 8½ by 5⅝ inches, the compact plate size allowed for intimate study or collection in albums, underscoring engravings' role in disseminating Renaissance humanism and Christian iconography during religious upheavals like the Dutch Revolt. This work invites reflection on hope as an enduring virtue, its delicate rendering capturing the period's blend of spiritual aspiration and artistic innovation. A gem in the Art Institute of Chicago's collection, it exemplifies how prints bridged elite patronage and popular devotion.

About the Artist

Jacob Matham · 1571–1631

**Jacob Matham: Master Engraver of Haarlem** Jacob Matham was born on October 15, 1571, in Haarlem, in the Northern Netherlands, into a burgeoning artistic milieu. Following his father's early death, his mother married the renowned painter and engraver Hendrick Goltzius in 1579, who adopted the young Jacob and trained him rigorously in the workshop as his stepson and pupil. Matham's first signed ...