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.

There is a short summary of the main plot of each Canto and a key event from each of the twelve Cantos of each book is illustrated by an original oil painting. Selected stanzas most closely related to the depicted event are quoted from the poem.

The first volume of this series illustrated 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”. The second volume illustrated scenes from Book 3 - “The Legend of Britomartis” or “of Chastity” and from Book 4 - “The Legend of Cambel and Telamond“ or "of Friendship”.

This third volume illustrates scenes from Book 5 - "The Legend of Artegall" or "of Justice", from Book 6 - "The Legend of Sir Calidore" of "of Courtesie" and from "Two Cantos of Mutabilitie" or "of Constancie".