Avarice
Adriaen Brouwer (1605/06 - 1638)
Framesize 31.30 x 27.00 x 4.20 cm
Showcase size 50.50 x 44.00 x 8.00 cm
In Avarice, Brouwer personifies the deadly sin; the man – presumably no specific person – stares out of the picture, his expression greedy and insatiable, as he clutches the brimming money-bag almost lovingly. Brouwer gives a vivid portrayal of avarice, which at that time was a frequent subject in series depicting virtues and vices. Feeling also belongs to the popular representations of the five senses. Peasant genre painting shows all manner of excesses. Caricatured, distorted features are often a forceful warning of the consequences of human behaviour.
DUCKE Astrid: Brouwer Adriaen, Avarice, in: DUCKE Astrid, HABERSATTER Thomas, OEHRING Erika: Masterworks. Residenzgalerie Salzburg. Salzburg 2015, p. 70
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