1683Lady Justice and the twelve cardinal virtues

The oil painting, 2.04 m high and 1.26 m wide, was likely painted in 1683 by the Alsfeld artist Andreas Stamm, son of the town clerk Philipp Stamm. It depicts Justitia, the goddess of justice, sitting under an apple tree. In her right hand she holds a pair of scales, and in her left a sword. A kneeling angel offers her a golden crown on a Bible, while another holds the Hessian coat of arms in the clouds. The dating to 1683 is derived from the name inscriptions of the twelve coats of arms strung on a cord, representing five mayors (Wegehausen, Steub, Knöttel, Höll, Hartmann) and seven councilmen (Böcking, Schorling, Leußler, Welcker, Bing, Lipp, Kopp).

The Latin text in the large oval cartouche at the bottom left, in front of the angel, lists the “cardinal virtues of an upright councilman.” The translation is as follows:

I I help the oppressed

II I temper the strictest law

III I harm no one

IV I obey the laws

V I take proper counsel

VI I judge wisely

VII I love the citizens

VIII I turn a blind eye to no one

IX I assign to each his own

X I listen to the perpetrator

XI I respect common property

XII I do not flee from the darkness

(MNic)