A monument teaching mortality, including figures and symbols alluding to death. Etching by or after G. Fortuna.

Top, an entablature with various mortality-motifs; cherubim with down-turned torches, an hourglass and skull. Left and right, obelisks with skulls as finials and Greek inscriptions on the bases: "Mnēmoneue" (left) and "apopsuchein" (right) (Mnēmoneue apopsuchein, remember [that you] die)

Below the entablature, a cave in which sit the three Fates. On the front of the moulding on which they sit, the words "Iter ad" (left) and "vitam" (right) (Iter ad vitam, the journey to life). Left and right, cartouches with the mottoes "Bonis bona" (good things to the good) and "Malis mala" (bad things to the bad). The upper part of the monument is supported on the left and right by atlantes in the form of standing skeletons

Below the Fates, a wheel of death, engraved around the rim "Omnibus hominibus semel mori post hoc autem iudicium statutum" (it is laid down that all men die once, but after that [comes] judgment). The eight spokes of the wheel are engraved with mottoes about death, all of which require the suffix -mus (e.g. pri, nequi) for completion. In the centre of the wheel crouches a skeleton with a scythe, representing Death the reaper: it holds a blank cartouche in which the missing "-mus" can be inscribed. Between the spokes are skulls wearing the headdresses of the mighty (crown, bishop's mitre, papal tiara etc.) laid against crossbones. Left and right of the wheel, Adam and Eve respectively. Below the wheel, mourners and the winged head of Father Time

The base of the monument forms a sarcophagus on the front of which are skulls, books, coins etc. Within it is a cartouche engraved "Tria sunt vere quae me faciunt flere" (there are truly three things which make me weep". Below, the three things are listed: "Primum quidem durum, quia scio me moriturum. Secundum uerò plango, quia moriar, et nescio quando, tertium autem flebo, quia nescio ubi manebo." Left and right, cartouches held by skeletal hands with skulls above, engraved "Memento mori" and "Memorare novissima". A shallow step at the bottom bears the lettering "S'hor per te stesso al ben oprar sei lento, Chi sia per te poi al orar intento"

[Siena] : Matteo Florimi for

1 print : etching ; platemark 49.4 x 33.8 cm

Questa notte la vita te sia tolta di chi sara questa tua gran ricolta. Attendi pur a te che morirai come hoggi io son cosi diman sarai. ... Along the top is engraved the heading "Questa notte la vita te sia tolta di chi sara questa tua gran ricolta. Luc. XII. Attendi pur a te che morirai come hoggi io son cosi diman sarai" Upper left, two stanzas of fifteen and four verses: "O miseri, che siamo altre che polve ... Senza sperar ch'a noi mai piu ritorni" and "Che miri ola, ola che guardi e pensi ... che sarai come io sono in tempo breve". Upper right, two stanzas of fifteen and two verses: "Che cosa e lhu<o>mo, hoime di si vil massa ... Fan si, che lhuom non pensa esser mortale" and "Pensa ala morte e no' al presente stato Se brami di fuggir ogni peccato" Lower left, a stanza of eight verses: "Mira miser qual sarai ... La tua carne, il sangue, e l'ossa." Lower right, a stanza of ten verses: "Hor perche ci insuperbiamo ... A servire quel Dio che amiamo"

Wellcome Collection 33803i