Zeven Hoofdzonden
Medium
engraving
Dimensions
102; 62
About this artwork
height 102 mm x width 62 mm
Art Historical Context
Heinrich Aldegrever's *Zeven Hoofdzonden (Seven Deadly Sins), in 1552, is a exquisite engraving measuring just 102 mm high by 62 mm wide. As one of the renowned "Little Masters" of the Northern Renaissance, Aldegre specialized in intricate small-scale prints from his workshop in Soest, Germany. This compact format allowed for remarkable detail, making his works affordable and widely collectible among the emerging middle class during the 16th century. The reveals a moralistic theme rooted in Christian theology, depicting the seven deadly sins—pride, greed, lust, envy, gluttony, wrath, and slot...
About the Artist
Heinrich Aldegrever · 1502–1561
Heinrich Aldegrever, born in 1502 in Paderborn, Westphalia, to parents Herman and Katherine Trippenmeker—a family of clog-makers known by the dialect name Trippenmecker—emerged as a multifaceted artist in the German Renaissance. His early training remains undocumented, though he likely apprenticed in a Soest goldsmith's workshop after relocating there around 1525, where he joined the painters' gui...