Vanity With Memento Mori. Oil On Copper, Italy, 17th Century.

Oil on copper representing a memento mori. Italy, 17th century. Follower of Jacopo Ligozzi. In this elaborate composition, a skull girded with a laurel wreath (symbolizing wisdom and glory) is depicted, topped with a winged hourglass (an obvious reminder of the passage of time), two scythes, crossed shins and 'a ribbon with the Latin inscription HOMINEM ET MEMENTO (remember man, or remember yourself). Under the skull, an oval shield surrounded by ears of wheat (symbol of rebirth and eternal life) containing the Latin motto QVIS EST HOMO QVI VIVET ET NON VIDE BIT MORTEM (Who is the man who lives and will not see death ).
It is obvious that the artist seeks to remind us of the "memento mori", that is, that we must live keeping in mind that death is an inevitable reality and that we should therefore stay on the right path.

Dimensions: 17 x 13.5 cm (30 x 26 cm with frame).