Temperantia

The figure is depicted with the exaggerated musculature and twisted pose characteristic of Haarlem Mannerism, standing within a shallow arched niche. She performs the traditional iconographic gesture of diluting wine with water, signifying moderation and the control of the passions. The composition emphasizes the physical form through a sophisticated system of swelling and tapering engraved lines.

Temperance represents the moderation of the senses and the balance of the four humors, a concept central to both Neoplatonic ethics and Renaissance natural philosophy. In the esoteric tradition, this 'tempering' of the base nature is a prerequisite for the higher spiritual work of the soul.