An old engraving of an hourglass with a heart on top, surrounded by a landscape and a circular inscription.
hourglassheartflamesmountainsfigurescircletexthourglasshearttimememento moriengravingsymbolismallegoryold bookillustration

The image is a circular emblem or illustration, likely from an old book, with a central hourglass motif. **Central Image:** An hourglass stands on a decorative pedestal. Above the hourglass, a heart is depicted, seemingly emitting flames or smoke. The hourglass itself is detailed, showing the sand flowing from the upper bulb to the lower. **Surrounding Scene:** The hourglass is set within a landscape. At the bottom of the circle, there's a dark, mountainous terrain with figures of people and animals. One figure appears to be riding a horse. **Circular Border:** The entire image is enclosed within a circular border. Around the border, the words “REPERE FE STIN” are inscribed in a repeating pattern. **Text:** Above the circular emblem, there's a line of text that reads “Pursue thy Workes, without delay, For, thy short houres runne fast away.” Below the emblem, the text reads “ILLVSTR. IIII.” and “Book. 4.” The style of the image is reminiscent of engravings from the 16th or 17th century, with detailed linework and a symbolic, allegorical quality. The overall theme appears to be a memento mori, reminding the viewer of the fleeting nature of time and the importance of pursuing meaningful work.


License: CC0