The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of April 19, 2024

Stultitiam patiuntur opes (Wealth permits Stupidity), or, Allegory of Wealth, Lust, and Stupidity

Stultitiam patiuntur opes (Wealth permits Stupidity), or, Allegory of Wealth, Lust, and Stupidity

1588
(Flemish, 1560/61–1628/32)
(Flemish, 1544–1603)
Sheet: 31.4 x 37.1 cm (12 3/8 x 14 5/8 in.); Image: 29.2 x 35.8 cm (11 1/2 x 14 1/8 in.)
Location: not on view

Description

In this pointed visual allegory, a king who personifies wealth counts his money at a table while a jester places a fool’s hat over his head. His female counterpart, distracted by her aged reflection in a mirror, displays her vanity in her luxurious clothing, lap dog, and hangers-on: flattery fans her, and stupidity, with a boar’s head, serves her food and drink. Such allegories were meant to both entertain while cautioning the viewer to question their own relationship to wealth.
  • Peters, Emily J. and Wehn, James. “Acquisition Highlights: Prints.” Cleveland Art: Cleveland Museum of Art Members Magazine vol. 58. no. 2 (March/April 2018): 14-15. Reproduced: P. 15; Mentioned: P. 14-15.
  • {{cite web|title=Stultitiam patiuntur opes (Wealth permits Stupidity), or, Allegory of Wealth, Lust, and Stupidity|url=false|author=Raphael Sadeler, Joos Van Winghe|year=1588|access-date=19 April 2024|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/2017.199