2-726-135 - Heritage Art/Heritage Images

Coat of Arms with a Skull, 1503. In this creative and technically stunning engraving, Dürer once again confronts the theme of lovers and Death. In this instance, Death’s abstract presence is conjured on a shield that only the viewer can see while his bodily presence takes the form of the wildman, a traditional medieval figure of virility, lust, and aggression. He supports a fantastical coat of arms while simultaneously playing the part of lover to an unsuspecting maiden who wears fashionable clothing meant for a celebration. Dürer’s allusion to high society combined with the young woman’s illicit expectation of love presents an allegory for the dangers of vanity and lust, both of which have a mortal price.