Memento Mori
1500-1550
Medium
Decorative Arts
Classification
Decorative Arts
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of John Gellatly
Accession Number
1929.8.240.22
Tags
Art Historical Context
### Memento Mori Nestled in the Smithsonian American Art Museum's Decor Arts collection, *Memento Mori* (. 1500–1550) is a poignant reminder of human mortality from the early Renaissance era. The title, Latin for "remember that you die," directly evokes the skull and head motifs captured in its tags, likely rendered as a carved or sculpted object. Created by an unidentified artist, this piece reflects the period's widespread fascination with vanitas themes, where everyday decorative items served as meditative tools urging viewers to contemplate life's transience amid growing wealth and humani...
About the Artist
Unidentified ( ) · –