Acedia Collection

The Save-time Postcard (litho)
8656911 The Save-time Postcard (litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Save-time Postcard. Postcard, early 20th century.); © Look and Learn.

Happy New Year! (colour litho)
8655915 Happy New Year! (colour litho) by German School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Happy New Year! German worker slacking off from his work on a building site)

I sette vizi capitale (The seven main sins). Creator: Fabbi, Fabio (1861-1946)
I sette vizi capitale (The seven main sins). Found in the Collection of the Museo Ottocento Bologna.

The Haywain or Tribulations of human life (Tapestry), ca 1550-1565. Creator: Brussels Manufactory (1515-1525)
The Haywain or Tribulations of human life (Tapestry), ca 1550-1565. Found in the collection of the Patrimonio Nacional, Madrid

Allegory of Virtues, ca 1529. Creator: Correggio (1489-1534)
Allegory of Virtues, ca 1529. Found in the collection of the Musee du Louvre, Paris

The Seven Deadly Sins: Greed, c. 1570. Creator: Backer, Jacob, de (1540/45-ca. 1600)
The Seven Deadly Sins: Greed, c. 1570. Found in the Collection of the Museo di Capodimonte, Naples

Minerva Expelling the Vices from the Garden of Virtue. Artist: Mantegna, Andrea (1431-1506)
Minerva Expelling the Vices from the Garden of Virtue. Found in the collection of Louvre, Paris

The Seven Virtues, c. 1450. Artist: Pesellino, Francesco di Stefano (1422-1457)
The Seven Virtues, c. 1450. Found in the collection of the Birmingham Museum of Art, Birmingham, Alabama

Man Having to Choose between the Virtues and Vices, 1635. Artist: Francken, Frans, the Younger (1581-1642)
Man Having to Choose between the Virtues and Vices, 1635. From a private collection

The Seven Deadly Sins. Found in the Collection of Geneva Fine Arts Foundation

The Seven Deadly Sins. Artist: Bosch, Hieronymus (c. 1450-1516)
The Seven Deadly Sins. Private Collection

The Prosperity. Artist: Tintoretto, Domenico (1560-1635)
The Prosperity. Found in the collection of Museo del Prado, Madrid

The Repentant Mary Magdalene. Artist: Crayer, Caspar de (1584-1669)
The Repentant Mary Magdalene. Found in the collection of Musee des beaux-arts de Valenciennes

Young Man Between Virtue and Vice. Artist: Veronese, Paolo (1528-1588)
Young Man Between Virtue and Vice. Found in the collection of Museo del Prado, Madrid

Allegory of Wealth. Artist: Vouet, Simon (1590-1649)
Allegory of Wealth. Found in the collection of Louvre, Paris

Acedia (Sloth) From the series Seven Deadly Sins, 1557. Artist: Bruegel (Brueghel), Pieter, the Elder (ca 1525-1569)
Acedia (Sloth) From the series Seven Deadly Sins, 1557. Found in the collection of the Albertina, Vienna

Allegory of Luxuria, ca 1426. Artist: Pisanello, Antonio (1395-1455)
Allegory of Luxuria, ca 1426. Found in the collection of the Albertina, Vienna

The Seven Virtues, c. 1467-1469. Artist: Guidi (called Scheggia), Antonfrancesco (1441-1476)
The Seven Virtues, c. 1467-1469. Found in the collection of the Museu Nacional d Art de Catalunya, Barcelona

Allegory of Virtue and Riches, ca. 1665-1667. Artist: Schalcken, Godfried Cornelisz (1643-1706)
Allegory of Virtue and Riches, ca. 1665-1667. Found in the collection of the National Gallery, London

The Dream of Human Life, after 1533. Artist: Buonarroti, Michelangelo, (School)
The Dream of Human Life, after 1533. Found in the collection of the National Gallery, London

Minerva overcomes ignorance laziness Minerva
Minerva overcomes ignorance and laziness, Minerva, sitting on the clouds, has Ignorance under her feet and laziness, with a turtle, flees from her

Sloth, detail from the Table of the Seven Deadly Sins and the Four Last Things, c
XIR405648 Sloth, detail from the Table of the Seven Deadly Sins and the Four Last Things, c.1480 (oil on panel) by Bosch, Hieronymus (c.1450-1516); Prado, Madrid

Envy, Pieter van der Heyden, Hieronymus Cock, unknown, 1558

Laziness, Pieter van der Heyden, Hieronymus Cock, unknown, 1558

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"Acedia: The Battle Between Virtue and Vice" In the world of art, various masterpieces have depicted the eternal struggle between good and evil. From Pesellino's "The Seven Virtues" to Mantegna's "Minerva Expelling the Vices from the Garden of Virtue, " these works capture humanity's constant battle with their inner demons. One such demon that has plagued mankind throughout history is acedia, also known as sloth. Bruegel's haunting depiction in his series "Seven Deadly Sins" portrays this deadly sin as a lethargic figure, representing our tendency to succumb to laziness and apathy. Yet, amidst this darkness, artists have also celebrated virtues and repentance. Veronese's painting shows a young man caught between virtue and vice, symbolizing the internal conflict we all face when making moral choices. Similarly, Crayer depicts Mary Magdalene in her moment of repentance, reminding us that redemption is always within reach. Luxuria or lust has been another temptation humans grapple with since ancient times. Pisanello captures its allure in his allegorical artwork while Bosch warns against its destructive nature through his vivid imagination. On the other hand, Tintoretto celebrates prosperity in his masterpiece by portraying abundance and wealth as symbols of success. Vouet takes a similar approach with his portrayal of an allegory of wealth; however, he reminds us that true riches lie beyond material possessions. Throughout history, artists like Scheggia and Schalcken have continued exploring these themes by depicting allegories of virtue versus riches. Their works serve as reminders that true happiness lies not in worldly possessions but rather in living a virtuous life guided by principles such as diligence and temperance. As we delve into these artistic representations spanning centuries, we are confronted with our own struggles against acedia - whether it be procrastination or indifference towards important matters.