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Feb 12, 2022 · Medieval Europeans combined Christian theology with the stoic legacy to put their own spin on memento mori. Still focusing on impending death, they incorporated symbols such as hourglasses, extinguished candles, flowers, and fruit.
The idea of the "Memento Mori" - a Latin phrase meaning "remember that you must die" - is a fertile theme in art than can be traced back to the Ancient Egyptians. But as a defined genre its beginning is connected specifically with the period of Roman Antiquity (hence the Latin title).
- Fruit: Varying Symbolism In Still Life Paintings. Fruits are some of the most ubiquitous subjects in still-life paintings over the centuries. Not only does a basket of fruit offer the artist a variety of colors and textures to utilize, but it also offers a variety of religious and mythical symbols.
- Skulls: The Certainty Of Mortality. Get the latest articles delivered to your inbox. Sign up to our Free Weekly Newsletter. Made famous by Dutch and Flemish artists of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, vanitas still-life paintings express the transience of life and the futility of materialism.
- Candles: The Passing Of Time. Another common component of vanitas still life paintings, candles represent the inevitability of the passing of time—the longer they burn, the smaller they get until there is nothing left.
- Flowers: Symbols Of Life And Growth. A beautiful bouquet of flowers in full bloom can signify life, faith, growth, and power. Wilting flowers, on the other hand, serve as grim reminders that life, material goods, and beauty are fragile.
- Forget-me-not. Forget-me-nots are delicate blue flowers with a yellow center that bloom in spring and early summer. These flowers are commonly associated with memory and remembrance, and their name itself reflects their symbolic meaning.
- Rosemary. Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) is a fragrant herb with evergreen foliage that is commonly used in cooking and for its medicinal properties.
- Pansy. Pansies are a delicate and colorful flower that is often associated with memories and remembrance. The flower’s name is derived from the French word “pensée,” which means thought or remembrance.
- Lily of the Valley. Lily of the valley is a flower that has been associated with memory since ancient times. Its delicate white bell-shaped blooms and sweet fragrance have made it a popular choice for various occasions, including weddings and funerals.
Memento mori is a Latin phrase meaning ‘remember you must die’. A basic memento mori painting would be a portrait with a skull but other symbols commonly found are hour glasses or clocks, extinguished or guttering candles, fruit, and flowers. Closely related to the memento mori picture is the vanitas still life. In addition to the symbols ...
Memento Mori, translated as ‘Remember you must die’, serves as a reminder not to dwell in morbidity or fear, but rather to inspire, propel, and bring clarity. This concept has held significance in various fields such as art, philosophy, literature, architecture, and more throughout history.
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May 10, 2013 · When This You See, Remember Me. The forget-me-not’s associations with love and remembrance date to the Middle Ages, and were expressed in both the Old French and Middle High German names for this pretty little flower. Left: a pot of forget-me-nots on the parapet in Bonnefont garden.