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Skeleton of Death taunting a Physician to
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Skeleton of Death taunting a Physician to
Skeleton of Death taunting a Physician to save a sick old man. A phial of urine in the the skeletons bony hand. Physician, heal thyself. Handcoloured copperplate engraving by Wenceslaus Hollar from The Dance of Death by Hans Holbein, Coxhead, London, 1816
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Media ID 23194186
© Florilegius/Mary Evans
Doctor Hans Holbein Hollar Hourglass Office Physician Sick Skeleton Taunt Urine Wenceslaus Phial
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In this hauntingly beautiful hand-colored copperplate engraving by Wenceslaus Hollar, titled "Skeleton of Death taunting a Physician," the grim reaper stands triumphantly over a sick old man, holding a phial of urine in his bony hand. The skeleton's piercing gaze is fixed on a nearby physician, who is engrossed in his work, oblivious to the impending demise of his patient. The hourglass on the physician's desk serves as a stark reminder of the fleeting nature of life. The skeleton's taunting gesture, "Heal thyself," is a chilling reminder of the futility of human efforts to defy death. The cat, a common symbol of death in medieval art, adds to the ominous atmosphere. The physician's office is cluttered with books and medical instruments, including a mortar and pestle, a scalpel, and a mortar, all of which are powerless against the relentless march of time. This image is taken from Hans Holbein's series "The Dance of Death," which depicts the inevitability of death for all, regardless of social status or wealth. The series was first published in Strasbourg in 1538 and was later reproduced in various forms, including this hand-colored version by Wenceslaus Hollar in 1816. The engraving serves as a poignant reminder of the fragility of life and the inevitability of death, urging us to cherish every moment and appreciate the fleeting beauty of existence.
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