The Triumph of the Riches, from The Cycle of the Vicissitudes of Human Affairs, plate 2 1564

This engraving, by Cornelis Cort, presents a pageant of worldly riches, teeming with potent symbols. At its heart, we see a triumphant figure, laden with jewels, bearing a crown. The train is a whirlwind of human vices, each distinctly rendered. The horses pull a chariot draped with human skulls, a stark memento mori. These symbols are not isolated; they echo throughout history. The skull, for instance, appears in countless vanitas paintings as a signifier of inevitable decay, urging reflection on life’s transience. Here, the artist uses this motif to remind us that pride and earthly triumph are fleeting. Consider how such imagery persists, transformed, in later eras. The same preoccupation with morality and the transience of life found in the Middle Ages takes on new forms throughout the Renaissance. The emotional power of this image lies in its stark contrast: the allure of wealth juxtaposed with the grim reminder of mortality. Such images compel us to confront our own fleeting existence and to seek meaning beyond the material world. The cycle of human affairs is a visual exploration of our deepest desires and anxieties, resonating across time.