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Death extinguishes the candles on an altar
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Death extinguishes the candles on an altar
Death extinguishes the candles on an altar of a Nun and her lover.. Handcolored engraving by Chretien de Mechel from Hans Holbein's The Triumph of Death, based on original drawings by Peter Paul Rubens, 1860
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Media ID 32223656
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Altar Apartment Candle Chretien Gallantry Hans Holbein Lover Lute Mechel Peter Rubens Skeleton Triumph
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In this hauntingly beautiful hand-colored engraving by Chretien de Mechel, we see Death extinguishing the candles on an altar belonging to a Nun and her lover. The scene is taken from Hans Holbein's "The Triumph of Death," with original drawings by Peter Paul Rubens.
The image captures a moment of both gallantry and tragedy as Death, depicted as a skeleton, interrupts the peaceful setting of the nun's apartment. The nun and her lover are frozen in time, their lute lying abandoned beside them as they face their inevitable fate.
The contrast between light and dark in this print is striking - the candles flicker out one by one as Death hovers over the altar. The religious symbolism is palpable, with the nun's devotion to her faith juxtaposed against the harsh reality of mortality.
As viewers gaze upon this historical artwork, they are transported back in time to witness a poignant moment that speaks volumes about love, loss, and ultimately our own mortality. It serves as a reminder that even in moments of despair, there is beauty to be found in art that transcends time itself.
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