L'Avarice - Jacob Gole

A satirical mezzotint by Jacob Gole depicting the personification of Avarice as a corrupt sacristan, complete with accompanying moralising verse.

Jacob Gole, a Dutch engraver and publisher active in Amsterdam, produced this mezzotint as part of a series depicting the Seven Deadly Sins. The work, titled L'Avarice, presents a satirical characterisation of greed. The subject is depicted as a sacristan, a figure traditionally associated with the care of church property, here transformed into a caricature of avarice. The figure wears a hood and holds small bags, likely containing coins, which suggest a preoccupation with material wealth over spiritual duty. A placard hanging around the neck identifies the figure as 'Le Pere Sacristain'.

The mezzotint technique allows for a subtle gradation of tone, which Gole employs to model the weathered, cynical features of the subject. The face is etched with deep lines, conveying a sense of cunning and moral decay. The circular composition focuses the viewer on the expression and the symbolic objects held by the figure. Below the portrait, a French verse provides a commentary on the corruption of the sacristan, detailing the illicit gains made through the misuse of church funds. This combination of visual satire and text was a common format for moralising prints in the late seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries.

Gole was known for his technical proficiency in mezzotint, a medium that had gained popularity in the Netherlands through the influence of artists like Abraham Blooteling. This print reflects the period's interest in character studies and moral allegory, often used to critique social or religious figures. The work remains a clear example of the satirical print tradition, where the artist uses portraiture to embody abstract vices. The print is preserved in several museum collections, including the Rijksmuseum, where it is catalogued as part of a series exploring human failings through the lens of contemporary social archetypes.