Background

Aspect ratio: 1.2:1
Behold, our ceiling painting featuring two saucy putti flaunting their round derrieres while holding bunches of grapes in the name of modesty. Framed in an elegant oval and adorned with a Latin inscription urging us to resist the temptation of spirits, it is not only a timeless image, but also a perfect conversation starter.

Sound-mindedness
Parit parce utere hilaritatem ebrietatem molestiam: Temperance leads to cheerfulness, excess to trouble.
Temperance, one of the four cardinal virtues, encompasses the practice of moderation and discernment, emphasizing the avoidance of excess. Plato held the belief that this virtue stood as the foremost among them all.

The maker
Somewhere between 1580 and 1588, Crispijn van de Passe crafted this exquisite print in the vibrant heart of Antwerp. Behind its creation stood Jacob de Backer, a Dutch artist whose life was cut tragically short. Crispijn’s legacy, however, would leave an indelible mark. His engraving prowess knew no bounds, birthing an astonishing tapestry of over 14,000 prints, spanning a kaleidoscope of subjects. In an era of artistic evolution, Crispijn also ventured into the realm of illuminated books, a fashionable collaboration with printers of his time. Remarkably, despite being uprooted twice due to his religious convictions, Crispijn not only persevered but thrived, etching his name as a paramount figure in the nascent British print industry.

Available in the colors black, grape blue, grape leaf green, rosé pink, aunt Myrtle purple.