The Nun

Category

Library Item

Item no

28471

Title

The Nun

Description

Death, the corpse-like figure, sneaks up on the nun, and is about to snuff out a candle on the sideboard; this is a clear metaphor for the ending of the nun's life. The nun, however, is oblivious to Death's presence; she has been distracted from her prayers by an attractive young man playing a lute, an instrument which often symbolised sexual desire.

Artist / maker

von Mechel, Christian

Date

1780

Size

10.2 x 8.2 cm

Type

Engraving

Location

Art and Design Library

On the one hand, this image confirms that Death comes to all, including nuns. While the gender of the dead figure is unclear, it seems to be sporting the remnants of a nun's wimple or hood; this is an indication that the nun will soon be dead and decay similarly. On the other hand, the image also warns against the foolishness of temporary desires like lust. It particularly highlights the folly of neglecting faith which, according to Christian doctrine, was essential for salvation; only those with faith, it was thought, would be resurrected on Judgement Day and finally beat Death.
This image is from Christian von Mechel's Dance of Death series. Mechel's engravings were first published in 1780; this image is from an edition printed in that year which is now kept in Central Library's Dance of Death Collection. Mechel's series was supposed to be a copy of Hans Holbein the Younger's Dance of Death, but it actually borrows more heavily from a Peter Paul Rubens copy of Holbein's series.

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Related subjects

Furnishings > Furniture > Beds

Furnishings > Ornamentation > Candle holders

Furnishings > Ornamentation > Candle sticks

People > Body parts > Skeletons

People > Entertainment and sports > Musicians

People > Religion > Nuns

Sport and leisure > Culture > Musical instruments

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