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Engraving of a man clinging to a tree above a fiery monster, with a bear, snakes and rats on the ground below.

A man clings to a tree, struggling not to fall into a cauldron containing a monster while a bear and snakes look on; rats gnaw at the trunk of the tree; representing the threat and eventual victory of Death. Engraving by M. Mouzyn, 1656 (?), after A.P. van de Venne.

An engraved allegory shows a man clinging to a branch of an apple tree above a fiery pit where a monstrous serpent-like creature writhes in flames. A bear, a snake and rats gnaw at the trunk below, while the tree's fruit hangs above. Dark cloud and hatched shading fill the background.

Artist
Adriaen van de Venne
Date
1656
Medium
Allegorical prints Engravings
Source
Wellcome Collection
Size
2684 × 4000 px
Download full size
Public domain · Wellcome Collection marks it Public Domain Mark; made by 1656.
Rights checked 2026-11-05 · tier A · as stated by the source: Public Domain Mark (Wellcome Collection)

Credit (appreciated, not required for public-domain works): Wellcome Collection

Español: Hombre aferrado a un árbol sobre un monstruo de fuego, alegoría de la muerte

Un grabado alegórico muestra a un hombre aferrado a una rama de un manzano sobre un foso de fuego, donde una criatura monstruosa parecida a una serpiente se retuerce entre llamas. Abajo, un oso, una serpiente y ratas roen el tronco, mientras la copa del árbol cuelga con frutos. El fondo muestra nubes oscuras y sombreado en trama.

Português: Homem agarrado a uma árvore sobre um monstro de fogo, alegoria da morte

Uma gravura alegórica mostra um homem agarrado a um galho de macieira acima de um poço de fogo, onde uma criatura monstruosa semelhante a uma serpente se contorce entre as chamas. Embaixo, um urso, uma cobra e ratos roem o tronco, enquanto a copa carrega frutos. O fundo tem nuvens escuras e sombreado em hachuras.

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