Avaritia 1580 - 1600

"Avaritia" is an engraving by Theodor de Bry created sometime between 1580 and 1600. The image, now in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, depicts a semicircular scene teeming with figures engaged in various acts of greed. The central inscription “Avaritia” (meaning “avarice” or “greed”) is framed by two pillars topped with skulls and surmounted by a grotesque winged demon. Below, a Latin inscription reads “Non qui parvum habet est pauper, sed qui plus cupit” (He is not poor who has little, but he who desires more), which further emphasizes the theme of insatiable greed. De Bry's detailed and intricate style, characteristic of the Northern Renaissance, captures the moralistic tone of the artwork, creating a visual commentary on the dangers of avarice.