The Triumph of Pride 1564

Editor: This print, "The Triumph of Pride" by Cornelis Cort, seems incredibly rich in detail. I’m immediately struck by the procession and the central figure holding a mirror. How do you interpret this work's symbolism? Curator: The mirror, of course, is a well-worn symbol of vanity, but consider its broader context. Pride, or Superbia, was understood as the ultimate sin from which all others arise. Do you see how the artist connects it to classical architecture and figures? Editor: I do now! The Colosseum seems to connect Pride to worldly power and earthly empire. Is that the peacock another symbol of Pride? Curator: Precisely. The peacock embodies ostentatious display. Notice how these symbols build upon one another. The Roman architecture, the peacock, the mirror – all components of the sin of Pride, feeding human vanity. Editor: It’s fascinating how many layers of meaning are packed into one image! Curator: Indeed! And that layering speaks to the complex relationship between cultural memory and personal reflection.