Caption

Death and the Cardinal, from the series The Power of Death; Heinrich Aldegrever ca. 1502–1555/1561, graphic print, 1541 1st edition. German, Renaissance; vanitas allegory depicting Death personification and a cardinal/dignitary in an interior with throne, skeleton, hourglass; height 7.6 cm, width 5 cm., An intricately detailed black-and-white engraving shows an interior scene with a seated robed figure wearing a soft cap and voluminous garments on the right, leaning on a carved armrest with a small sculpted figure at its base; a standing figure in period clothing with a fur-trimmed collar and hose faces the seated figure while holding a large hourglass on a small table between them; a skeletal figure stands behind the seated figure, reaching toward the hourglass; heavy drapery with tassels hangs above and behind them, and a narrow doorway or recess is visible to the left; the floor and walls are rendered with dense crosshatching, and the overall palette is black, white, and shades of gray.

Credit line

Photo12/Liszt Collection

Reference

LZT26A33_093

License type

Rights managed

Available size

70.9Mb (5.4Mb) / 13.8in x 20.0in / 4128 x 6000 (300dpi)

Keywords

Death Cardinal series Power Heinrich Aldegrever ca 1502–1555 1561 graphic print 1541 1st edition German Renaissance vanitas allegory depicting Death personification cardinal dignitary interior throne skeleton hourglass height 7.6 cm width 5 cm intricately detailed black- -white engraving interior scene seated robed figure wearing soft cap voluminous garments right leaning carved armrest small sculpted figure base standing figure period clothing fur-trimmed collar hose faces seated figure holding large hourglass small table them skeletal figure stands reaching heavy drapery tassels hangs narrow doorway recess visible left floor walls rendered dense crosshatching palette black white shades gray.