Rettile Collection

Metope with figure riding a tortoise, from Paestum, the Heraion at the mouth of the Sele River
LRI741073 Metope with figure riding a tortoise, from Paestum, the Heraion at the mouth of the Sele River; Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Paestum, Parco archeologico di Paestum & Elea-Velia

Death standing on a sarcophagus where the dead Pope and the Emperor lie, detail from the Triumph of Death
2655029 Death standing on a sarcophagus where the dead Pope and the Emperor lie, detail from the Triumph of Death and Dance of Death, 1485 (fresco) by Borlone de Buschis

Death standing on a sarcophagus where the dead Pope and the Emperor lie, detail from the Triumph of Death
2655019 Death standing on a sarcophagus where the dead Pope and the Emperor lie, detail from the Triumph of Death and Dance of Death, 1485 (fresco) by Borlone de Buschis

Death standing on a sarcophagus where the dead Pope and the Emperor lie, detail from the Triumph of Death
2655014 Death standing on a sarcophagus where the dead Pope and the Emperor lie, detail from the Triumph of Death and Dance of Death, 1485 (fresco) by Borlone de Buschis

Purgatorio, Canto 8 : The angels drive the serpent away
GIA745661 Purgatorio, Canto 8 : The angels drive the serpent away, illustration from The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri, 1885 (digitally coloured engraving) by Dore

Inferno, Canto 25 : Agnello transforming into a serpent
GIA745694 Inferno, Canto 25 : Agnello transforming into a serpent, illustration from The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri, 1885 (digitally coloured engraving) by Dore

Bracelets with triple spiral
LRI741101 Bracelets with triple spiral, by Greek School, (4th century BC); diam: 6.5 cm; Museo Archeologico Provinciale, Salerno

Portrait of a Gentleman in his Office (oil on canvas, 1528-1530)
LRI4611919 Portrait of a Gentleman in his Office (oil on canvas, 1528-1530) by Lotto, Lorenzo (c.1480-1556); Gallerie dell Accademia, Venice

Inferno, Canto 24 : The thieves tormented by serpents, illustration from
745693 Inferno, Canto 24 : The thieves tormented by serpents, illustration from The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri, 1885 (digitally coloured engraving) by Dore

Inferno, Canto 30 : The torment of the forgers in the ninth bolgia (Gianni Schicchi)
GIA745687 Inferno, Canto 30 : The torment of the forgers in the ninth bolgia (Gianni Schicchi), illustration from The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri, 1885 (digitally coloured engraving) by Dore

Inferno, Canto 5 : Minos judges the transgressions and dispatches the souls
GIA745728 Inferno, Canto 5 : Minos judges the transgressions and dispatches the souls, illustration from The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri, 1885 (digitally coloured engraving) by Dore

lucertola muraiola, podarcis muralis

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Amidst the grim dance of Death, a reptilian figure weaves through the tapestry of life and death. In the Triumph of Death and Dance of Death, Death stands triumphantly on a sarcophagus, where the dead Pope and Emperor lie. Elsewhere, in Dante's Inferno, serpents torment the thieves and forgers, while Minos, a serpentine judge, dispatches souls to their respective circles of hell. In Purgatorio, Canto 8, angels drive away the serpent, symbolizing the separation of the virtuous from sin. The triple spiral bracelets, reminiscent of the lucertola muraiola and podarcis muralis, add a touch of mystery to this reptilian theme. Meanwhile, in a portrait of a gentleman in his office, a serpentine motif subtly winds its way around the room, a reminder of the inescapable cycle of life and death.