{"product_id":"avarice-heinrich-aldegrever","title":"Avarice - Heinrich Aldegrever","description":"\u003cp\u003eA detailed 1552 engraving by Heinrich Aldegrever depicting the allegorical figure of Avarice riding a wolf.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis engraving by Heinrich Aldegrever, dated 1552, depicts the personification of Avarice. As a member of the Little Masters, a group of German printmakers known for their small-scale, highly detailed works, Aldegrever demonstrates his technical mastery through precise line work and complex iconography. The central figure, a woman representing greed, sits atop a wolf, an animal traditionally associated with predatory behaviour and gluttony. She holds a standard featuring a flayed animal, a symbol of the destructive nature of hoarding and material obsession.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTo the left, a vulture perches upon a pile of objects, reinforcing the theme of scavenging and decay. The wolf itself carries a bird in its jaws, further emphasising the theme of consumption. The composition is tightly controlled, typical of the mid-sixteenth-century German print tradition, where moralising allegories were common subjects for collectors. The Latin inscription at the base provides a textual anchor for the visual narrative, warning against the moral failings associated with the vice of avarice.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAldegrever was based in Soest and was heavily influenced by the work of Albrecht Dürer. His prints often feature sharp, clean lines and a clear sense of volume, despite the small format. This piece is part of a series exploring the seven vices, a popular subject for artists of the period who sought to provide visual instruction on ethical conduct. The clarity of the engraving allows for a close examination of the textures, from the fur of the wolf to the folds of the woman's drapery. It remains a fine example of the technical skill and intellectual rigour present in sixteenth-century printmaking.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"margin-top:2rem;padding-top:1.5rem;border-top:1px solid #e5e5e5;\"\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-size:0.85rem;color:#888;font-weight:600;margin:0 0 0.75rem;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:0.05em;\"\u003eYou might also like\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:0.5rem;\"\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/prodigal-son-wasting-his-fortune-sebald-beham\" style=\"display:inline-block;background:#f8f9fa;border:1px solid #e5e5e5;border-radius:20px;padding:0.35rem 0.85rem;font-size:0.8rem;color:#2a555a;font-weight:500;text-decoration:none !important;background-image:none !important;\"\u003eProdigal Son Wasting his Fortune - Sebald Beham — Sebald Beham\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/the-peasant-wedding-march-and-april-hans-sebald-beham\" style=\"display:inline-block;background:#f8f9fa;border:1px solid #e5e5e5;border-radius:20px;padding:0.35rem 0.85rem;font-size:0.8rem;color:#2a555a;font-weight:500;text-decoration:none !important;background-image:none !important;\"\u003eThe Peasant Wedding: March and April - Hans Sebald Beham — Hans Sebald Beham\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Heinrich Aldegrever","offers":[{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ -","offer_id":58502651576655,"sku":null,"price":28.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ -","offer_id":58502673629519,"sku":null,"price":35.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ -","offer_id":58502673662287,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58502673695055,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58502673727823,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58502673760591,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58502673793359,"sku":null,"price":60.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58502673826127,"sku":null,"price":60.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58502673858895,"sku":null,"price":60.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58502673891663,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58502673924431,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58502673957199,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0833\/9292\/1935\/files\/Avarice_Poster_CompositorV1_1786426564762.jpg?v=1787019206","url":"https:\/\/www.solisprints.co.uk\/products\/avarice-heinrich-aldegrever","provider":"Solis Prints","version":"1.0","type":"link"}