Memento mori art6/6/2023 Saint Jerome Writing is located in the Oratory of St John's Co-Cathedral, Valletta, Malta.įeatured image: Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio - Saint Jerome Writing, 1605–05. Therefore, this 17th century painting gives a nod to Ippolito Malaspina, Prior of the Order of the Knights of Saint John (the Knights of Malta) in Naples with his coat of arms painted in the bottom right corner, while Saint Jerome, the translator of the Bible is presented next to the human skull, a typical symbol for memento mori. His patrons and protectors who were closely affiliated with the Malta Knights thought that by joining the order, Caravaggio would seek protection. Professionally framed in simple tray frame in keeping with the piece. At that time, the famed Italian master arrived in Malta after spending months in Naples in refuge because of the killing of a man he has committed in Rome. Painted on cradled board in acrylic and mixed media. Captions, via Creative Commons.Īnother good example of memento mori paintings is Caravaggio’s Saint Jerome Writing made in 1607 or 1608. Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando collection. The following list highlights some of the most compelling examples of memento mori paintings made by artists from the mid 16th to the early 20th century.įeatured image: Antonio de Pereda - The Gentleman's Dream, 1650s. Closely affiliated with memento mori are the Dance Macabre and vanitas subgenres that are also centered around the representation of death. memento mori, in art and spirituality, a symbolic trope or meditative practice that serves as a reminder of mortality and the transitory nature of earthly. The origin of memento mori meaning can be traced back to the philosophers of classical antiquity and Christianity, while its physical representation gained popularity through funerary art of the medieval period. This particular term refers to the inevitability of death and involves a serene atmosphere mostly centered around human skulls, but also a coffin, hourglass, or wilting flowers. Art history is marked by numerous concepts that have been thoroughly explored by artists throughout the centuries, one of them being memento mori.
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