Allegory of Poverty Hindering Wit

Cornelis Cort

National Gallery of Art

The image shows a man standing in a contrapposto pose, with his weight on the right leg and left leg slightly bent. His left arm is extended upwards with a bird perched on the back of his hand, and his right arm holds a strap wrapped around a large rock. The man has a bushy beard, curly hair, a neutral expression, and is looking up at his raised hand. He is wearing draped clothing over one shoulder and tied around his waist, revealing a muscular torso. There is a small tree stump and grass around his feet, with a plain background.