The Devil Fills the Human Heart with Lust for Riches, Power and Pleasure

Maarten van Heemskerck, 1548 - 1550

The winged devil is busy painting a shield with depictions of earthly desires: a sack of money, a nude woman, crowns and sceptres. Meanwhile, the young admirer of the diabolical work of art is being shackled. This is Heemskerk’s design for a print engraved by his friend the printmaker Dirck Volckertsz Coornhert. The same message would later return in the Strong Men: fight the devil and sin with virtuous conduct.

  • Artwork typedrawing, design
  • Object numberRP-T-1899-A-4260
  • Dimensionsheight 249 mm x width 194 mm
  • Physical characteristicspen in bruin