Sense of Smell

A man in a ruff collar holds a single rose to his nose while resting his hand on the head of a dog, an animal traditionally associated with keen scent. To his right, a woman carries a large basket of flowers, and a formal floral arrangement sits in a vase on a ledge behind them. A two-line Latin inscription at the bottom warns the viewer that bitterness often hides beneath sweet fragrances.

This print reflects the Renaissance philosophical preoccupation with the five senses as the interface between the material world and the human intellect. In the context of natural philosophy and moral thought, such allegories served to remind viewers of the transitory and sometimes deceptive nature of physical pleasure.