Feast in the house of the Rich Man

The composition visualizes the moment of indulgent revelry in the house of the affluent, while the underlying story recounts a beggar named Lazarus who is denied sustenance and later receives heavenly reward, whereas the rich man suffers after death. The print thus underscores the moral that material wealth holds no value beyond life, and that suffering may be recompensed in the afterlife.

Executed in fine line engraving, de Passe renders intricate architectural details, textiles, and decorative objects with precise hatching. The artist’s baroque sensibility is evident in the dynamic arrangement of figures, the play of light across polished surfaces, and the inclusion of allegorical artworks within the scene, such as a Venus and Cupid sculpture and a painted hunting tableau on a clavichord lid.

The figures are dressed in the latest early‑17th‑century fashion, reflecting the social aspirations of the Dutch and Flemish elite. Elements like the fleur‑de‑lis patterned wall covering, a reclining nude panel, and the presence of a Galliard dance illustrate contemporary tastes and the importance of cultured performance as a marker of refinement.

The print is part of the Victoria and Albert Museum’s collection, where it is catalogued among works that document the visual culture of the Baroque period. Its inclusion in the museum’s holdings provides scholars with a visual record of domestic interiors and social customs of the era.