Sets of allegories
A type of print which became popular,
particularly in the middle years of the 17th century, comprised sets of prints, usually of
human figures, depicting allegorical subjects. Typical series dealt with the 12 months, the
4 seasons, the 5 senses, the 7 deadly sins, the 7 liberal arts or the 12 sybils. A useful
list of such series is provided in Griffiths, Print in Stuart
Britain, pp. 307-13, and many examples are to be found on our database, including
various sets of the 4 seasons etched by Hollar, a set of the 7 deadly sins by John Goddard,
and sets of the 7 liberal arts and the 4 senses by Francis Clein.