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Armed Skeleton, Allegory of Death
Public domain

Armed Skeleton, Allegory of Death

Luca Bertelli · c. 1565 · etching; paper

From the collection of Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam. Free to download, adapt and use — no permission needed.

About this work

This sinister allegory of death is inscribed: 'Even the most violent men are tamed by Death, which is more violent still.' The print was meant to hang on a wall, given the printed frame with which the Venetian publisher marketed it. As a result, most examples will have been the worse for wear and discarded. As far as is known, this is the only surviving impression.

Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam’s own description
Credit lineArmed Skeleton, Allegory of Death. c. 1565. Luca Bertelli. Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam. Public domain.

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