Pride (Superbia) - Jacob Matham

A striking hand-coloured engraving by Jacob Matham, depicting the allegorical figure of Pride with her traditional attributes of a mirror and a peacock.

This hand-coloured engraving by Jacob Matham depicts the personification of Pride, or Superbia, one of the seven deadly sins. Matham, a prominent Dutch engraver and draughtsman, was a student of Hendrick Goltzius, and this work reflects the stylistic tendencies of the Haarlem Mannerists. The figure stands in a contrapposto pose, draped in voluminous, heavy robes that suggest a sense of theatricality. She holds a mirror in her left hand, a traditional attribute associated with vanity and self-obsession. Beside her, a peacock displays its plumage, reinforcing the symbolic connection between the bird and the sin of pride.

The composition is framed by a landscape background, which provides a sense of depth while keeping the focus on the central allegorical figure. The Latin inscription at the base serves to identify the subject and provide a moralising commentary on the nature of pride. The use of hand-colouring adds a layer of visual interest, with the saturated tones of the garments contrasting against the cooler blues of the sky and the muted greens of the distant hills. The line work is precise, characteristic of the technical skill required for late sixteenth-century printmaking. This piece offers a clear window into the moralising visual culture of the Dutch Golden Age, where classical allegory and Christian ethics were frequently merged in print media. The work is part of a series depicting the seven deadly sins, a common subject for artists of the period who sought to combine technical virtuosity with didactic themes. The figure's elaborate attire and the inclusion of the mirror invite the viewer to consider the transient nature of beauty and the dangers of excessive self-regard.