Vanity and Virtue:
Allegories on the Pursuit of Riches

Plate one of his series of six engravings after Heemskerck with this title, published in 1563. A later state, shown here, called Divitum Misera Sors, was issued by Joannes Galle. Illustration of Matthew 19:23-24. A rich man tries to enter the gate to Heaven, but his money bags hold him back. Behind him, three men try to lead a camel through the eye of a needle.

First state. Plate two of the series of eight engravings after Heemskerck entitled Circulus vicissitudinis rerum humanarum (Cycle of the vicissitudes of human affairs.) Riches, the mother of Pride, rides on the car named Fame, which is pulled by Fraud and Rapine. Following Betrayal, Usury, and Lust are False Joy and other Idle Pleasures.

Second state. Caption below image is in Latin, French and Dutch: Riches make thieves, or, gold and silver have destroyed many.

First state. Gold coins form the wheels of a chariot, upon which is the World, while two noblemen blinded by money walk alongside. A group of peasants is held back by Poverty, standing on the wheel of Fortune.

Plate three from his series of four allegorical prints on the virtues after de Vos, representing also the four ages of man. A pious man turns away from a woman offering riches.

Depiction of a man clutching money bags. "The miser, hoarding his treasure, lives amid riches, yet is always destitute." (Latin caption). The frog in the foreground is a symbol associated with sin, particularly that of hoarding worldly things.

This is a later state, with J. Razet's address. A woman sits beside a table laden with gold coins and other riches. She holds an urn with smoke rising out of it, a symbol of transience, and a peacock stands behind her, signifying vanity.