Artwork
Greedy and Lazy, Moderate and Industrious
Greedy and Lazy, Moderate and Industrious is an oil painting by the Realist artist Charles Verlat. It dates from 1850 and is held in the collection of the Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp.
About this work
Overview
Created circa 1850 by Belgian painter Charles Verlat, Greedy and Lazy, Moderate and Industrious is an oil on canvas that belongs to Verlat’s extensive output of genre scenes. Executed during his tenure as director of the Antwerp Academy, the work reflects his interest in everyday subjects and aligns with the Realist tendency to portray figures without romantic embellishment.
Subject & Meaning
The composition centers on two farm animals, a light‑brown pig on the left and a darker donkey on the right, both reaching for a heap of leafy vegetables. Their contrasting postures and expressions have been interpreted as an allegorical commentary on differing work ethics, contrasting gluttony with diligence through the simple, domestic tableau.
Technique & Style
Verlat employs a muted, earth‑toned palette that emphasizes the natural coloration of the animals and the background. The brushwork is precise yet restrained, rendering the fur and hide with a tactile quality while maintaining the overall flatness characteristic of mid‑nineteenth‑century Realism. The painting’s surface shows signs of age, with a slightly worn varnish that softens the edges.
History & Provenance
The canvas was produced during Verlat’s prolific middle period, when he was simultaneously exploring animalier subjects, portraiture, Orientalist themes, and religious narratives. Although specific ownership records are scarce, the work has remained within European collections, reflecting the artist’s reputation in his native Belgium and the broader market for genre paintings of the era.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Charles Verlat or Karel Verlat (25 November 1824 – 23 October 1890) was a Belgian painter, watercolorist, engraver (printmaker), art educator and director of the Antwerp Academy.
