A Large Frame of the Iconography of Death in the Time of John Donne
Graduation Date
Spring 1967
Document Type
Master's Thesis
Document Form
Degree Name
Master of Arts
Degree Granting Institution
Catholic University of America
Program Name
Humanities
Abstract
The purpose of this study is to protray the large frame of the icongraphy of death in the tie of John Donne. My study must, by definistion, leave out the Ars Moriendi theme which is really a companion study. Furthermore, some very fine contributions of Donne to the representation of Death must be discarded as appertaining to Death’s properties rather than to his actual appearance. The few deviatios in the paper from the actual iconographical aspects of Death are to elucidate an iconographical aspect of John Donne’s treatment of Death.
For the purpose of my paper, I have group iconographical examples under three headings. The Danse Macabre theme includes the hand of Death, which is as prominent visually as the dance itself, as well as the conception of Death as a clownish dancer and, therefore, a vehicle of satire.
The image of a greedy Death eating his victims comes from the Apocalypse (20:13), where death and hell are described as giving up their dead at the Last Judgement. Its role is minor in the history of an iconographic Death, and suggests the phyical contact as well as the lack of dignity of the Danse Macbre, but without the importance of the hand and leg motif fo the Danse Macbre. I suggest it as a second theme because of its importance in Donne’s writings. My third category, the very popular Apocalypse theme of a Warrior Death on a horse (6:8), includes as well his proud, aristocratic aspect.