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Man Born to Toil, from The Reward of Labour and Diligence, plate 1

Philips Galle Netherlandish
After Maarten van Heemskerck Netherlandish
1572
Not on view
A baby representing mankind suckles at one of Natura’s seven breasts. Suspended in her vicinity is a giant sphere to which are stuck all manner of tools, as if magnetized. In medieval schools of thought, work involving the manipulation of matter, including the production of "artificial forms"—in other words, art—had not enjoyed the same status as pursuits such as philosophy and theology. This image attests to the newfound prestige accorded to the professional class in Europe, who over the course of the sixteenth century successfully argued for the value of labor and the virtues of work in support of a meaningful existence.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Man Born to Toil, from The Reward of Labour and Diligence, plate 1
  • Series/Portfolio: The Reward of Labour and Diligence
  • Artist: Philips Galle (Netherlandish, Haarlem 1537–1612 Antwerp)
  • Artist: After Maarten van Heemskerck (Netherlandish, Heemskerck 1498–1574 Haarlem)
  • Date: 1572
  • Medium: Engraving, second state of four (New Hollstein)
  • Dimensions: Sheet: 8 3/16 × 9 13/16 in. (20.8 × 25 cm)
  • Classification: Prints
  • Credit Line: The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, The Elisha Whittelsey Fund, 1949
  • Object Number: 49.95.2370(1)
  • Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints

More Artwork

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The Fall of Babylon, Philips Galle Netherlandish, Engraving
The Fall of Babylon
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After Maarten van Heemskerck
1569
Mary Magdalene at the Foot of the Cross, Master of Rimini, Alabaster, South Netherlandish
Mary Magdalene at the Foot of the Cross
Follower of the Master of Rimini
ca. 1420–30
Phaeton, from "The Four Disgracers", Hendrick Goltzius Netherlandish, Engraving
Phaeton, from "The Four Disgracers"
Hendrick Goltzius
After Cornelis Cornelisz van Haarlem
1588
Faith (Fides) from The Virtues, Philips Galle Netherlandish, Engraving; second state of two
Faith (Fides) from The Virtues
Philips Galle
After Pieter Bruegel the Elder
Publisher Martel
ca. 1559–60
Pair of Stirrups, Iron, gold, Netherlandish
Pair of Stirrups
Netherlandish
first half 17th century

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