Luiheid (Sloth) - Jacob Gole

A Dutch mezzotint by Jacob Gole depicting the personification of Sloth, featuring a sleeping monk and accompanying French verse.

This mezzotint by Jacob Gole depicts the personification of Sloth, or 'Luiheid', as part of a series representing the Seven Deadly Sins. Gole, a Dutch engraver and publisher active in Amsterdam, utilised the mezzotint technique to achieve the soft, tonal transitions visible in the subject's face and hooded garment. The figure is identified as 'Le Frere Morphée', a play on Morpheus, the god of dreams, suggesting a state of perpetual slumber.

The composition is circular, framing the head of a monk whose eyes are closed in heavy, lethargic repose. A key, marked with a cross, rests upon his hood, while a small plaque hanging from his neck bears his name. The lower portion of the print includes a verse in French, 'La Paresse', which describes the character's preference for sleep and ease over activity. The text notes that only the sound of a bell or the promise of food and money might disturb his rest.

Mezzotint was a popular medium for such allegorical works during the late seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries, as it allowed for a painterly quality that line engraving could not replicate. The velvety blacks and subtle greys create a somber, contemplative atmosphere appropriate for the subject matter. Gole was known for his technical skill in this medium, often producing portraits and genre scenes that circulated widely throughout Europe. This print provides a clear example of how moralising themes were translated into visual form for a contemporary audience, blending classical references with the recognizable figure of a monk to critique the vice of indolence.