Rosary Terminal Bead with Lovers and Death’s Head
Accession Number:17.190.305
A string of beads is used as a memory aid in the recitation of the rosary, a multipart devotion to the Virgin. Here, the striking terminal bead announces the constant proximity of death by joining a skull to the pair of vivacious lovers. Such an image is known as a memento mori (reminder of death), as it encourages one to reflect on the transience of life.
source: The Met
1500-1525, North France or South Netherlands
Published
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