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Lorenzer Platz

Tugendbrunnen

Virtues Fountain

 Benedikt Wurzelbauer
1589

Nürnberg / Tugendbrunnen   Nürnberg / Tugendbrunnen

Description

Fountain with a central column with three storeys with statues:
  1. Top: Gerechtigkeit - Justice, blindfolded woman with scales and sword, with behind here a crane.
  2. Middle: six music-making putti with coats of arms (each coat of arms appears twice):
    1. Great arms of Nürnberg (eagle with a king's head)
    2. Holy Roman Empire (crowned, double-headed eagle)
    3. Small arms of Nürnberg (eagle and red bends)


    Great arms of Nürnberg
    Holy Roman Empire
    Small arms of Nürnberg
  3. Lower: six virtues
    1. Glaube - Faith, woman with chalice and cross.
    2. Liebe - Charity, woman with two children.
    3. Hoffnung - Hope, woman with anchor.
    4. Tapferheit - Fortitude, armoured woman with gun and lion.
    5. Mäßigkeit - Temperance, woman pouring wine from a jug in a goblet.
    6. Geduld - Patience, woman with lamb.

    Faith Charity Hope Fortitude Temperance Patience
    (click on the photo for an enlargement in a separate window.)
On the column are three texts:

Soli Deo
Gloria 		Benedict
Wvrczlpavr 		Anno Domini
m.d.lxxxix

Seven Virtues

In the Catholic catechism, the seven virtues refer to the combination of two lists of virtues, the 4 cardinal virtues of prudence, justice, restraint or temperance, and courage or fortitude, (from ancient greek philosophy) and the 3 theological virtues of faith, hope, and love or charity (from the letters of Paul of Tarsus); these were adopted by the Church Fathers as the seven virtues.

In art they are often depicted as young women with characteristic symbols: Four cardinal virtues:

  1. Justitia (Justice) - sword, balance and scales, crown
  2. Temperantia (Temperance) - wheel, bridle and reins, vegetables and fish, cup, water and wine in two jugs
  3. Fortitido (Fortitude) - armor, club, with a lion, palm, tower, yoke, broken column
  4. Prudentia (Prudence) - book, scroll, mirror (occasionally attacked by a serpent)
Theological Virtues:
  1. Fides (Faith) - cross, pointing upward, staff and chalice, lamp, candle
  2. Spes (Hope) - anchor, harp, flaming brand, palm
  3. Caritas (Love) - flaming heart, with children, gathering fruit

Sculptor

Sources & Information

Tags

  • Charity (Charitas)
  • Coat of arms
  • Faith (Fides)
  • Hope (Spes)
  • Justice (Justitia)
  • Patience (Patientia)
  • Strength (Fortitudo)
  • Temperantia
  • Virtues
  • Wurzelbauer, Benedikt

    • Locatie (N 49°27'4" - E 11°4'40") (Satellite view: Google Maps)

    Item Code: deby245; Photograph: 28 September 2011
    Of each statue we made photos from various angles and also detail photos of the various texts.
    If you want to use photos, please contact us via the contact form (in Dutch, English or German).
    © Website and photos: René & Peter van der Krogt

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