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Original fileJacht op rijkdom
About This Work
A woman representing Prodigality rides a horse over the fallen figure of Justice, scattering coins behind her while being followed by Flattery. A man labeled Parsimony leads a pack of dogs—named Plunder, Cunning, Industry, Labor, and Usury—toward a large medallion of Money (Pecunia). In the distance, Avarice is seen trapped in a cage, while the figures of Food and Clothing represent basic human needs.
Created within the circle of Haarlem Mannerists, this work reflects 16th-century moral debates concerning the rise of mercantile capitalism and the corrupting influence of money. It visually critiques how the pursuit of wealth can trample justice and subvert social order, aligning with the Neostoic and humanist philosophies prevalent in the Netherlands at the time.