Bone Fool

A page for the appreciation and knowledge of the use of skulls and skeletons in premodern art

[fiery-kitty]

“Angel of Death” – Tyra Kleen (1905)

[sictransitgloriamvndi]

L'avertissement (1900/etching) - Albert Besnard

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Georg Erler (1871–1950), “Death and the Maiden”

etchings, c. early 20th century — source

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Mary Magdalene in Meditation (1623) by Jusepe de Ribera

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Hugo Steiner-Prag (1880–1945)

illustrations from “Gespenstige Balladen” (Ghostly Ballads) series

etchings, 1924 — source

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Mors Imperator – Hermione von Preuschen (1887)

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Der Flösser Tod / The raftsman Death – Franz Lippisch (1897)

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Triumphal parade of Death over the dead bodies of kings and generals, popes and bishops (16th century)

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“Peace Bells” — Andreas Gering (1916)

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Fer-de-reliure de la "Compagnie des Confrères de la mort" — Clovis Eve (1586)

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• Memento Mori •

Johannis Cemetery, Nuremberg, Germany

Rerum.Novis

[fiery-kitty]

The Death of Emperor Ferdinand III as an Allegory of Transience (around 1660)

Daniel Neuberger (1621, Augsburg – 1680, Regensburg)

Kunsthistorisches Museum Vienna

This work is a memorial and allegorical devotional object dedicated to the death of Emperor Ferdinand III. In the 17th century, such compositions were used as meditative objects encouraging reflection on the transience of life (memento mori tradition).

Place of origin: Vienna (Wien)

Object type: devotional image (Andachtsbild); wax relief composition (Wachsbossierung)

Materials and Technique: Wax, lead, glass, shell, dried flowers, parchment; oak wood with ebony veneer (frame); spruce wood (core structure)

Dimensions: 25 × 34 × 11 cm (object), 37.2 × 47.5 × 17.5 cm (frame)

Inscription: Latin inscription: “VIVI”

Artistic Characteristics: mixed-media construction (wax combined with organic and fragile materials) creating a highly illusionistic scene; strong emphasis on detail and naturalism; intensive symbolic meaning related to death, decay, and the fragility of existence; characteristic Baroque dramatic visual language

[skull-designs]

“The blackout hearts the flowered news / With skull designs upon my shoes” I Can’t Give Everything Away / David Bowie.

This blog was born out of grief ten years ago when David died. I still can’t give everything away.

St Mary Magdalene & St Denys, Midhurst, West Sussex.

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Hugo Steiner-Prag (1880–1945)

illustrations from “Totentanz” series

lithographs on woven paper, 1919 — source

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Vanitas and selfportrait by Gustave-Victor Cousin (1836-1894)

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L'Hécatombe / La Syphilis, Louis Raemaekers, c. 1922

Colour lithograph

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