Allegory of the Life of a Scholar in a Rich Household [fol. 3 verso / 4 recto] c. 1512 - 1515

This pen and brown ink drawing, titled "Allegory of the Life of a Scholar in a Rich Household," presents a multi-tiered stage teeming with allegorical figures. Notice how the composition is structured around a series of platforms, each depicting different phases or aspects of scholarly life. The artist uses line to define forms and create a sense of depth, with the figures densely packed and actively engaging across the different planes. There is a dichotomy between elevation and damnation through the levels on which the figures are arranged which conveys a moral narrative. This division reflects the structuralist idea that meaning is often created through binary oppositions, such as good and evil, success and failure. By examining the drawing's structure, its play of lines and levels, we can start to decode the artist’s commentary on the life and moral challenges of a scholar. The drawing invites us to consider how these formal elements support the artwork's themes and create a rich, layered viewing experience.