Fortitude, plate 36 from Genii and Virtues

This delicate work, designed and engraved by an unknown artist, is from a series of 50 prints erroneously thought to be Tarocchi, a deck of tarot cards. The allegorical figures illustrate the breadth of human knowledge and ability: liberal arts and sciences, cardinal and spiritual virtues, and cosmic powers. Here, the personification of strength wears lion armor and holds a broken column—an allusion to the biblical figure Samson, whose final powerful act was toppling a building, killing his captors and himself.