Man is tempted by sins, plate #4 from "The Misery of Human Life", Philips Galle; Artist: after Maarten van Heemskerck | Mia

nude man at front, seen from back, being confronted by a row of figures--five women and one man--outdoors; woman at right wearing peacock feather headdress and holding a heart-shaped vessel with a peacock feather in her PR hand; text at bottom — Man is tempted by sins, plate #4 from "The Misery of Human Life", 1563
Philips Galle; Artist: after Maarten van Heemskerck
Etching
Gift of James A. Bergquist, Boston, in honor of Rachel McGarry 2021.69.19.4
Not on View
In the midst of temptation and warnings, a man tries to make his way through life. "Avaitia" (Greed) holds up a purse. "Conscientia" (Consicence) holds up a mirror, while "Opinio" watches the man carefully. Haggard "Invidia" (Envy) eats her heart out, as "Tristitia" (Sadness) folls along. Festooned with peacock feathers, "Superbia" (Pride) awaits anyone who fails to follow the path of goodness. Someone was so concerned about such temptations that they painted over the naked rear of Conscience.

A woman lableled "Opinio" adjusts her hair with her hand. A man labeled "Homo" clasps his hands, interlacing his fingers. A woman labeled "Tristitia" clasps her hands, interlacing her fingers. A woman labeled "Superbia" with a peacock-feather headdress holds up a heart decorated with more peacock feathers.

This is the fourth print in a series of six that studies the misery of human life. The images were designed by Maarten van Heemskerck and engraved by Philips Galle. Each is accompanied by Latin verses by the learned Dutch polymath Hadrianus Junius (1511-1575), with further verses in French and Dutch below.

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Details

Title: Man is tempted by sins, plate #4 from "The Misery of Human Life"
Dated: 1563
Artist: Philips Galle; Artist: after Maarten van Heemskerck
Nationality: Flemish
Artist Life: 1537 - 1612
Role: Artist
Gallery: Not on View
Department: European Art
Dimension: 7 5/16 × 9 5/8 in. (18.57 × 24.45 cm) (plate)10 × 10 7/16 in. (25.4 × 26.51 cm) (sheet)
Credit: Gift of James A. Bergquist, Boston, in honor of Rachel McGarry
Accession Number: 2021.69.19.4
Medium: Etching
Country: Flanders
Century: 16th century
Rights: Public Domain
Classification: Prints
Object Name: Print
Catalogue Raisonne: The Illustrated Bartsch, vol. LVI .072:4 New Hollstein, Philips Galle, Part II.290 I/II
Wikipedia: Cite this information
Portfolio: From The Misery of Human Life
Metadata: Click here to see the machine readable JSON data that underpins this page.
Curator Approved: This record is from historic documentation and may not have been reviewed by a curator, so may be inaccurate or incomplete. Our records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@artsmia.org.

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