Saltatio mortis

This was my fourth painting I did at my art course. We could choose something personal to create, so I decided to paint a "danse macabre" scene
Unfortunately I didn't had enough time to finish it -_- , but I'll update it as soon as possible.

We had to try to imitate the medieval miniature painting style, for that I simplified the skeletons and the crypts are not shown in the correct prospective.
I also show different symbols for vanitas and death like:
- the number seven: this number is the number of death and stand below the number 8, (number of eternity and eternal life.) The skull pyramid shows 52 skulls. The digit sum is 7. I also drew seven skeletons.
- The reaper in the center is characterized with the scythe and the hour glass, two typical symbols for death. I also added a bow and an arrow. This is often used in medieval depictions of death. He also holds the hourglass to the two dancing corpses, but also to the observer to give a warining that our lifetime is running.
- the instruments the skeletons play are often seen in "danse macabre" scenes, especially the trumpet: it refers to (1 Cor 15,52) "Canite tuba et mortui resurgent" (translation: blow the trumpet and the dead shall rise). I may will add a drum and a bagpipe which are also often seen in such drawings. They're a symbol of the heartbeat and breath, two things the dead do always miss
- the lilies in the lower corners will remain white, because they're a symbol of death.
- the candles in the left crypt are a symbol of life. Our life is like a burning candle which shortens by burning and can blow out anytime.
- in the right crypt there's a skull with a crown. It's a very popular application on old graves and coffins. It shows that not the king is the most powerful ruler, it's the reaper! Because even the monarchs have to comply with him.
- The two angels of death are an allusion to the medieval bible miniatures. We often see that two or more angels hold a banner with a bible passage on it. But I will add the following on this banner: SIC TRANSIT GLORIA MUNDI (translation: worldly things are fleeting).
- the frame below with the skulls and bows will show the following text: QUOD SUMUS HOC ERITIS - FUIMUS ALIQUANDO QUOD ESTIS (translation: You'll be what we are, once we were what you are.). It's taken from a legend of the 11th century, called "The Three Dead Kings".