Death and the maiden niklaus manuel deutsch

Copyright (textes)
1996-2018 © Patrick Pollefeys

This theme has a multi-faceted past .

It is rooted in very old mythological traditions: among the ancient Greeks, the abduction of Persephone (Proserpine among the Romans) by Hades (Pluto), god of Hell, is a clear prefiguration of the clash between Eros and Thanatos.

The young goddess gathered flowers in company of carefree nymphs when she saw a pretty narcissus and plucked it. At that moment, the ground opened; Hades came out of the underworld and abducted Persephone.

This old vision will take a new form at the end of the 15th century and become the theme of Death and the maiden,which will culminate in Germany at the Renaissance.

In many dances of Death already figured a representation of Death with a fine lady or with a beautiful virgin.

Death and the maiden schubert

The image of a young woman was also found in the three ages and Death. However in both cases, there was no trace of erotism. But with Death and the maiden theme, something new happened. Peo