Memento Mori

c. 1500/1502

Master MZ

Associated Names
Master MZ

Artist, German, active c. 1500

The image shows a full-length figure of a nude woman standing on a grassy landscape. She is in a contrapposto pose, balancing on a human skull. The woman's face has a calm expression, with prominent cheekbones and a slightly pursed mouth. Her long, wavy hair cascades down her back. She holds an object in her right hand and gestures with her left hand, which is draped with fabric. In the background, there is an engraving of trees, hills, and a distant village or castle under a cloudy sky. The landscape is detailed with rolling hills and foliage.

Media Options

This object’s media is free and in the public domain. Read our full Open Access policy for images.
Not on view See artworks now on view

Artwork overview

  • Medium

    engraving on laid paper

  • Credit Line

    Rosenwald Collection

  • Dimensions

    sheet: 18 × 12.9 cm (7 1/16 × 5 1/16 in.)

  • Accession Number

    1943.3.186

  • Catalogue Raisonné

    Lehrs, Vol. 8, p.373, no. 20, State only

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

Johann Peter Maria Cerroni [1753-1826], Brunn (Lugt 1432); Dr. Christian David Ginsburg [1831-1914], Palmer's Green, England (Lugt 1145); (sale 42, Hollstein und Puppel, Berlin, 6 December 1929, no. 931); (Charles Sessler, Philadelphia); purchased by Lessing J. Rosenwald [1891-1979], 1930; gift to NGA, 1943.

Associated Names

Exhibition History

1933

  • An Exhibition of Prints from the Collection of Lessing J. Rosenwald, Carnegie Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, 1933, no. 22.

1967

  • Fifteenth Century Engravings of Northern Europe from the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., NGA, 1967-1968, no. 144, repro.

1975

  • Images of Love and Death in Late Medieval and Renaissance Art, University of Michigan Museum of Art, Ann Arbor, MI, 1975-1976, no. 45, repro.

1990

  • Eva/Ave: Woman in Renaissance and Baroque Prints, NGA, 1990, no. 141, repro.

Bibliography

1908

  • Lehrs, Max. Geschichte und kritischer Katalog des deutschen, niederlandischen und franzosischen Kupferstichs im XV. Jahrhundert. 9 vols. and 1 plate vol. Vienna: Gesellschaft fur vervielfaltigende Kunst, 1908-1934.

1967

  • Shestack, Alan. Fifteenth Century Engravings of Northern Europe from the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.. Exh. cat. Washington: National Gallery of Art, 1967: no. 144.

1990

  • Russell 1990, no. 141.

Wikidata ID

Q64960439

You may be interested in

Loading Results