Painted by Domenico Fetti, this work is a celebrated piece of Baroque art. It’s an allegory of worldly pursuits that, with the passage of time, turn to dust as one heads towards death.
A woman stands leaning on a table with a weary/sad/meditative expression. Her left hand rests on her forehead, while in the right she holds a skull, a memento mori- symbol of the inevitability of death. Surrounding her is a space full of worldly pursuits. An open book signifying her scholarly interests. Brushes tied in a knot, a palette and a sculpture signifying her interest in the arts. The presence of an armillary sphere, a large green sphere signifying the moon, and a telescope all lead to interest in astronomy. The dog in the painting seems to share the melancholic state of the female, who is often depicted as a loyal companion.
Despite it all, the skull in her hand and the hourglass towards her side remind her of her death, which is imminent and will far surpass the worldly pursuits. Above the figure, the tower with visible bricks, against an open sky, carries on this image between this world and the next.
The painting is also intended to evoke an inspiration towards prayer and introspection in life, which is fleeting.
The muted color palette invokes a sense of melancholy and introspection.
The title alone ensures no viewer can mistake the sombre mood, in addition to the dark and dim colour palette, broken up only by small shapes of colour such as the woman's blue vest, another sad colour association, and tanned scroll or material that hangs from her back. It is a fascinating piece that demonstrates a woman's varied interests and understanding of varied fields, from the arts to scientific discoveries, while also highlighting a philosophical conundrum of what those fields mean in the face of mortality.
