The Seven Deadly Sins or the Seven Vices (Pieter Bruegel the Elder)  

From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia

Detail of Superbia (1577) by Pieter Bruegel the Elder, science fiction avant-la-lettre (from the collection The Seven Deadly Sins or the Seven Vices)

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seven deadly sins

The Seven Deadly Sins or the Seven Vices is a series of prints by Pieter Bruegel the Elder on the theme of the seven deadly sins, or vices, published around 1556-7 by Hieronymus Cock, based on drawings by the artist.

The series includes Greed (Avaritia)[1], Acedia[2] or depression without joy (Disidia), Gluttony (Gula)[3], Envy (Invidia)[4], Wrath (Ira)[5], Pride (Superbia)[6] and Extravagance or Lechery (Luxuria)[7] and a final plate[8] depicting doom.

Inscriptions

Luxuria

• LVXVRIA
• brueghel · Inuentor ·
• H. Cock · excu · cu · priui
• · PME ·
• LVXVRIA ENERVAT VIRES, EFFOEMINAT ARTVS.
• Luxurÿe stinckt sÿ is vol onsuuerheden Sÿ breeckt die Crachten en sÿ swackt die leden

Fuller description of the inscription:

in plate, beneath figure of Lust: LVXVRIA.; in margin below image: LVXVRIA ENERVAT VIRES, EFFOEMINAT ARTVS. [Lust enervates the strength, weakens the limbs]/Luxurÿe stinckt / Sÿ is vol onsuuerheden Sÿ breeckt die Crachten / en Sÿ swackt die leden [Lechery stinks, it is dirty. It breaks (man's) powere and weakens limbs]

Reference

• Bruegel and Lucas van Leyden: Complete Engravings, Etchings and Woodcuts, edited by Jacques Lavalleye, published by Abrams, ca. 1967.[9]
• Brueghel's zeven deugden en zeven hoofdzonden, Jan Gerrit Gelder, Jan Borms