The Lady of Death Masquerading as a Fool

1541

From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art

Dominant colour

The Lady of Death Masquerading as a Fool is a 1541 by Sebald Beham, a Renaissance work, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.

Who painted this?: Sebald Beham
When & what style?: 1541 · Renaissance
Where can I see it?: Cleveland Museum of Art

About this work

In this painting, a woman in a long dress and a fool's hat stands in a garden, holding a skull and an hourglass. She is facing to the right, and her head is turned to the left. The woman's dress is long-sleeved and has a high neckline, and she wears a cloak over her shoulders. The fool's hat is decorated with a bell and a feather. The woman stands in a garden with plants and a fence behind her. The hourglass is held in her right hand, and the skull is held in her left hand. The woman's face is serious, and her eyes are cast downward. This painting is characteristic of the Renaissance movement, which often featured symbolic and allegorical themes. To learn more about the artistic techniques used in this painting, explore the technique of chiaroscuro.