Spes

The figure of Hope is shown in profile with her hands clasped in prayer, her head surrounded by a radiant burst of light. She sits upon a large anchor, a traditional symbol of stability and steadfastness. The engraving features the characteristic swelling lines and muscular forms typical of the Haarlem Mannerist style.

As one of the three theological virtues, Hope represents the spiritual orientation toward the divine and eternal life. In the Neoplatonic and Hermetic frameworks of the Renaissance, these virtues were considered essential moral prerequisites for the soul's ascent and the successful completion of the Great Work.