The Deadly Sins Dominated by Death (Les Péchés Capitaux dominés par la mort), from the Deadly Sins (Les Péchés Capitaux) series
James Ensor
Belgian, 1860–1949
Details
Title
The Deadly Sins Dominated by Death (Les Péchés Capitaux dominés par la mort), from the Deadly Sins (Les Péchés Capitaux) series
Artist/Maker
James Ensor (Belgian, 1860–1949)
Date
1904
Medium
Etching
Dimensions
Contact the museum for more information
Credit
Purchase with funds from the Lawrence and Alfred Fox Foundation for the Ralph K. Uhry Collection
Accession #
72.8 H
Location
Currently not on view
In the series’ frontispiece, black-winged Death like an emcee presents the seven sins to the viewer. The sins are personified by various stock characters: on the very left, Pride appears as a soldier; next to him, Avarice grips his money bag; Anger is a woman staring intently and with bared teeth at the man representing Lust, who in turn is closely looking at her; next is a round-faced Glutton, with a sausage or cigar in his mouth; Envy holds a threatening knife; and finally, Sloth snores open-mouthed while a snail crawls up his night shirt.