Drunkenness and Alcoholism Savoir-boire. In the midst of the orgy, Tom seems exhausted and ridiculous. A syphilitic prostitute takes advantage of his altered state to slip her hand inside his shirt, pulling out his pocket watch to show to her friends. Around the table, from left to right, two prostitutes take turns to spit; a servant carries a candle and a large tray, which will serve as a stage for the woman taking off her clothes.
These images appear alongside the portrait of Pontac, a famous London chef β another nod to sensual pleasure. Some surprising works were intended to enforce the religious morality of the period.
The theme of mortal sin is presented in the context of the seven deadly sins β the root of all evil. From the fifteenth to the seventeenth century, the seven deadly sins were taken as inspiration by artists for moral allegories. In The Temptation of Saint Anthony , Bosch represents the influence of Satan on mankind and the struggle of individuals to choose between good and evil. Lust, gluttony and wine tempt the hermit; the wrong decision could destroy him.
Many artists simply wished to remind their audiences that sinners were barred from Heaven. Vermeer paints, in a moving and elegant way, the private life of women. Galerry Seduction and Love. Wine acts as a love potion with two possible outcomes for the consumer β either obsessive, all-consuming love or melancholic lassitude From her elegant clothes, we can suppose that she is the mistress of the house rather than a servant as is often suggested β Ed.
Her position, head in hands, is open to interpretation. She may be melancholic, but it is more likely that she is suffering from acedia , the classic state of indolence. In Middle-Age theology, this was considered a mortal sin.
