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Memento Mori

Master MZ

1501

ink

paper

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Renaissance Renaissance

Dominant colour

Memento Mori is a 1501 ink by Master MZ, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Master MZ
When & what style?: 1501 · Renaissance
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This is a black-and-white engraving of a naked woman standing in a forest. She holds a small mirror in one hand and a skull in the other. Behind her, a castle sits on a hill with trees around it. The woman’s hair is tied up, and she wears a simple belt. The background has tiny details like birds and a winding path, but the skull at her feet is the most striking part. This is an example of engraving.