Statue representing the Dance of Death, probably English, 1801-1850

Made:
1801-1850 in England
Plaster statue depicting 2 skeletons with pipe and drum Plaster statue depicting 2 skeletons with pipe and drum Plaster statue depicting 2 skeletons with pipe and drum Plaster statue depicting 2 skeletons with pipe and drum

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Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

Buy

License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

License

Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

Buy

License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

License

Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

Buy

License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

License

Plaster statue depicting 2 skeletons with pipe and drum
Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Plaster statue depicting 2 skeletons with pipe and drum
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum, London

Plaster statue depicting 2 skeletons with pipe and drum
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum, London

Plaster statue depicting 2 skeletons with pipe and drum
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Plaster statue depicting 2 skeletons with pipe and drum, Death Calling the Dance, one of a set of 37 statues, representing the Dance of Death, probably English, early to mid 19th century

Two skeletons with pipe and drum are depicted by this moulded plaster statue, thought to be of English origin. They are standing in front of a charnel house, stuffed full of skulls. The skeletons are in a scene called ‘Death Calling the Dance.’ It is one of a set of 37 statues representing the dance in which death summons reluctant mortal revellers to join his dance. The story of Death Calling the Dance is reputedly of German origin. The imagery arose in the 1400s when Europe was ravaged by the Black Death and other outbreaks of plague. It was made famous throughout Europe by copperplate engravings, particularly during the 1600s when plague returned in force.

The statue is also acts as a ‘memento mori’, literally a reminder of the shortness of life and the inevitability of death. The use of the dance of death and the skeleton to represent mortality was later replaced by the simpler image of the skull.

Details

Category:
Classical & Medieval Medicine
Collection:
Sir Henry Wellcome's Museum Collection
Object Number:
A654860 Pt2
Materials:
plaster
Measurements:
overall: 135 mm x 110 mm x 40 mm, .16 mm,
type:
statue and cast