Allegory of the end of man's life
Medium
Engraving
Dimensions
Sheet (Trimmed): 20 9/16 × 14 15/16 in. (52.3 × 38 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, The Elisha Whittelsey Fund, 1951
Accession Number
51.501.2904
Art Historical Context
Created in 1589 by Tommaso Moneta and Bernardino Passeri, *Allegory of the End of Man’s Life* is a striking engraving that captures the moral and philosophical concerns of the late Renaissance. During this period, artists frequently explored themes of mortality, virtue, and the passage of time, often through symbolic imagery meant to guide viewers toward spiritual reflection. As a collaborative print, the work highlights the division of labor common in engraving workshops, where one artist might design the composition while another executed the intricate line work on the copper plate. Engravi...
About the Artist
Tommaso Moneta|Bernardino Passeri (Italian|Italian) · 1538 |1577 –1642 |1585
Italian, active Rome, 1588–1603|Italian, active Rome, ca. 1577–85