Italian Baroque Marble Vanitas of a Skull and Crossbones

Period: 1600-1700

Origin: Italian

Medium: Marble

Literature: Christian doctrine teaches that death can be overcome within the doctrine of salvation, but that the believer must be eternally reminded of the transience of earthly life. ‘Teach us so to number our dayes, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom’ (PS 90.12).
This marble sculpture would have served to concentrate the penitents mind on renouncing the comforts and prides of this world and to focus his life on essentials, the last judgment and eternity.