Speculum Mortis: The Image of Death in Late Medieval Bohemian Painting

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Description

This study analyzes late medieval paintings of personified death in Bohemia, arguing that Bohemian iconography was distinct from the body of macabre painting found in other Central European regions during the same period. The author focuses on a variety of images from late medieval Bohemia, examining how they express the imagination, devotion, and anxieties surrounding death in the Middle Ages.

Reviews

This richly illustrated study provides comprehensive information about the cultural history of death, examining theological discourse and popular piety surrounding artistic visualizations such as the "personified death" in the Danse macabre. Daniela Rywikov's intriguing study introduces the reader to this central theme of humanity by drawing our attention to mural paintings and book illuminations of the Czech lands. Exciting to read and profoundly argued, Speculum Mortis: The Image of Death in Late Medieval Bohemian Painting offers important insight into the spirituality of medieval Bohemia. -- Maria Theisen, Austrian Academy of Sciences
This study offers fascinating new material for Danse Macabre scholars as well as interesting discussions and insights into medieval views on morality, death, and the macabre across Europe with numerous references to theology and the Bible. The book is richly illustrated and lucidly argued. The author has researched her topic widely. An impressive achievement. -- Sophie Oosterwijk, University of St Andrews

Author Bio

Daniela Rywikov is assistant professor of art history at the University of Ostrava.