Copy of The Rich Man Transported to Hell, from "The Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus"

Art Historical Context

Heinrich Aldegre, a prominent German engraver of the Northern Renaissance and member of the "Little Masters group, created this striking engraving *Copy of The Rich Man Transported to Hell* after 1554. Part of a series illustrating the Biblical "Parable of the Rich and Lazarus" from Luke 16, it captures the dramatic moment when the wealthy man, punished for his indifference to the beggar Lazarus, is dragged into the fiery torments of Hell by grotesque demons. Measuring just 3 1/8 × 4 5/16 inches, the intimate scale demands close viewing to appreciate its intricate details. Engravings like this one were revolutionary in the 16th century, allowing artists to produce finely detailed images that could be widely disseminated during the Protestant Reformation. Aldegrever's precise burin work renders writhing demons, flames, and the rich man's anguish with remarkable clarity, emphasizing moral lessons on humility and charity. This work, now in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints collection (gift of Harry G. Friedman, 1957), reflects the era's intense religious fervor and the power of print to visually preach eternal consequences. As a copy, it underscores the parable's enduring popularity, reminding viewers that true riches lie beyond material wealth—a timeless warning vividly etched in miniature.

About the Artist

Heinrich Aldegrever · 1502–1561

Heinrich Aldegrever, born in 1502 in Paderborn, Westphalia, to parents Herman and Katherine Trippenmeker—a family of clog-makers known by the dialect name Trippenmecker—emerged as a multifaceted artist in the German Renaissance. His early training remains undocumented, though he likely apprenticed in a Soest goldsmith's workshop after relocating there around 1525, where he joined the painters' gui...