A miser is sitting amidst his bags and cases full of gold coins. There is little else in his room, because money is all that matters to him. But now death is gathering up his gold coins, even as he will soon take the man himself. The miser tries to protect his pile of coins, which he values more than anything, but death is already taking his treasure and soon will take his life as well.
Misers have traditionally been held in low regard, being embodiments of avarice, one of the seven deadly sins. Misers were seen as morally flawed, because their refusal to share their wealth meant that they defied the principles of Christian charity.
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Holbein - the Dance of Death.
