Afgunst (Invidia) - Zacharias Dolendo

A detailed Dutch Mannerist engraving depicting the allegorical figure of Invidia, or Envy, complete with serpent hair and symbolic attributes.

This engraving by Zacharias Dolendo depicts the personification of Envy, known as Invidia. The figure is rendered with the traditional attributes associated with this vice, including hair composed of writhing snakes and a gaunt, emaciated physique. She is shown consuming a heart, a visual metaphor for the self-destructive nature of envy, while clutching a serpent in her right hand. The composition draws upon the stylistic conventions of Northern Mannerism, characterised by elongated proportions and a sense of restless movement.

In the background, a small, domed structure emits smoke, suggesting a scene of alchemical or industrial activity, while figures in the distance appear oblivious to the looming presence of the allegorical entity. The artist employs precise cross-hatching and varied line weights to create a sense of volume and texture, particularly in the swirling clouds and the drapery of the figure's garments. The Latin inscription at the base provides a moralising commentary on the subject, typical of the period's interest in classical allegory and human vices.

Dolendo, a Dutch engraver active in the late sixteenth century, was influenced by the works of Hendrick Goltzius and the Haarlem school. His technical proficiency is evident in the clarity of the lines and the balance between the central figure and the atmospheric background. This print belongs to a series exploring the Seven Deadly Sins, a common theme in European printmaking during the Renaissance. The work offers a glimpse into the period's preoccupation with moral instruction through visual media, using mythological and allegorical figures to represent complex human emotions and failings. The print remains a fine example of the technical skill required in late sixteenth-century engraving, where the artist had to translate tonal values and complex forms into a series of controlled incisions on a copper plate.