Spenser’s Elizabethan-era allegorical poem was originally intended to run to 12 books, depicting 12 moral virtues that would fashion a virtuous man. He published the first three books, depicting Holiness, Temperance and Chastity, in 1590. They were republished along with the next three books, depicting Friendship, Justice and Courtesy, in 1596. Two fragments of a seventh book, known as the “Cantos of Mutabilitie”, were published after his death.

A key event from each of the twelve Cantos of each book is illustrated by an original oil painting on a 10”x8” canvas. The main plot of each Canto is summarised. Selected stanzas related to the depicted event are quoted from the poem, based on the 1596 text.

This volume illustrates scenes from Book 1 - “The Legend of the Knight of the Red Crosse” or “Of Holinesse” and from Book 2 - “The Legend of Sir Guyon” or “Of Temperaunce”.

An appendix shows thumbnail images of the development of each painting, along with some design notes.