Vanitas, z kręgu badań nad śmiercią i przemijaniem

Abstract

Vanitas, a research on death and vanishing Culture and art from the Middle Ages were strongly associated with the Christian religion. This was mainly due to the possibility of transmission of moral and ethical message of the Holy Writ to wide range of illiterate audience. Death and redemption played a very important role in everyday life of Christians. The concept of'good death' was not only associated with the very moment of death, but also with daily life, significantly influenced by decent behaviour. Paintings, sculptures, but also decorative elements of clothing and accessories, e.g. rosaries and pendants were meant to remind constantly the transience of life and the need for faith in God in order to secure the immortal soul in Paradise and redemption of sins committed in life. Representations of vanitas showed the relationship between life and death. They also recalled moral values from sacred texts and precepts from the Scriptures, in accordance with which a good Christian, who wanted to receive the remission of sins after death, should have lived. Vanitas often had form of rosary beads or were a decoration emphasizing the piety of its owner. The manner of their manufacturing indicates great artistic value of each specimen, which caused high cost of small work of art. The greater craftsmanship the greater prestige and social status of the owner, who could afford to order vanitas made of wood, bone, precious stones or ivory.