Title
Two skeletons on a pedestal, by Anonymous Italian artist (1750, c.)
Description
"The inscription on the pedestal could be roughly translated as: 'We all have to die, the rich mingled with the poor'. This anonymous and very rare print has an oddly humorous side. As they reveal a stone tondo carved with dead bodies, the winged skeleton in the front kneels down in admiration in front of this monument of Death, while the other two skeletons are leaning onto it, seemingly in pleasant conversation. Their attitude is that of two gentlemen cracking a joke at the bar or casually chatting at a gallery opening." (Description from Christie's webpage,
https://onlineonly.christies.com/s/death-desire-prints-collection-giancarlo-beltrame/memento-mori-ingredimvr-cvncti-dives-cvm-pavpere-mixtvs-6/34681#lot-details-image-carousel)
However, the two skeletons can be both men and women, since there are no clear gender traits on either. The inscription discusses individuals of different social classes mingling but it does not discuss individuals of different genders mingling.
https://onlineonly.christies.com/s/death-desire-prints-collection-giancarlo-beltrame/memento-mori-ingredimvr-cvncti-dives-cvm-pavpere-mixtvs-6/34681#lot-details-image-carousel)
However, the two skeletons can be both men and women, since there are no clear gender traits on either. The inscription discusses individuals of different social classes mingling but it does not discuss individuals of different genders mingling.
Creator
Anonymous Italian artist (Unknown)
Source
Memento mori ('INGREDIMVR CVNCTI, DIVES CVM PAVPERE MIXTVS'), by Anonymous Italian artist (c. 1750).
Found in Death and Desire: Prints from the Collection of Giancarlo Beltrame, Christie's webpage:
https://onlineonly.christies.com/s/death-desire-prints-collection-giancarlo-beltrame/memento-mori-ingredimvr-cvncti-dives-cvm-pavpere-mixtvs-6/34681#lot-details-image-carousel
Archived in:
https://web.archive.org/web/20201003223959/https://onlineonly.christies.com/s/death-desire-prints-collection-giancarlo-beltrame/memento-mori-ingredimvr-cvncti-dives-cvm-pavpere-mixtvs-6/34681
Found in Death and Desire: Prints from the Collection of Giancarlo Beltrame, Christie's webpage:
https://onlineonly.christies.com/s/death-desire-prints-collection-giancarlo-beltrame/memento-mori-ingredimvr-cvncti-dives-cvm-pavpere-mixtvs-6/34681#lot-details-image-carousel
Archived in:
https://web.archive.org/web/20201003223959/https://onlineonly.christies.com/s/death-desire-prints-collection-giancarlo-beltrame/memento-mori-ingredimvr-cvncti-dives-cvm-pavpere-mixtvs-6/34681
Date
1750, c.
Format
Etching with engraving on laid paper.
Dimensions: 45.7 × 35.8 cm
Dimensions: 45.7 × 35.8 cm
Item Relations
This item has no relations.
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