Envy

Jacob Matham

Cleveland Museum of Art

The engraving, titled "Envy" by Jacob Matham, depicts a nude male figure with unkempt and wavy hair, clad in a draped cloth around his waist. He stands in an arched alcove, gripping a serpent in his left hand and bringing it to his mouth with his right hand. The alcove features a darker background with shading that transitions to lighter towards the center. Two small shields are positioned at the top corners of the engraving. The figure's facial expression appears to be one of distress or anguish. The engraving includes a line of Latin text at the bottom. The overall composition is in shades of gray.