Death and the Maiden

The motif of “Death and the Maiden” became widely adopted in western art during the Renaissance, after the Black Death killed one-third of Europe’s population in mid-14th century. In most paintings Death is represented by a skeleton or a faceless grim reaper cloaked in black in physical contact with a nude young female

In this work by Marianne Stokes, however, Death is given a feminine face and wears a nun’s headpiece. The scene is set in the bedroom of a young girl: She pulls the red blanket toward her chest instinctively for self-protection, and leans forward in shock and disbelief

On the floor next to the bed are some fallen petals, suggesting an imminent ending of life. Death holds in her right hand a lantern for guiding the way in the darkness of the underworld. But a certain kindness is shown by her raised left hand in a gesture of reassurance; her left wing extends to the back of the girl as if to embrace and sooth her

Stokes’ arrangement of the characters makes a clear reference to the classic representation of the Annunciation, in which the archangel Gabriel informs Mary that she will soon conceive the son of God. A famous example was painted in 1850 by Dante Gabriel Rossetti in the original Pre-Raphaelite style, which Stokes most likely should have seen

Death and the Maiden traditionally contained a moral element, that life is transient, as is female beauty. But as Stokes’ painting shows the girl in bed and dressed in night gown, so this could be merely a dream and not real death

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Franz Schubert composed a song in 1817 with the same title. Below are the lyrics:

  • The Maiden:
    • Pass me by! Oh, pass me by!
    • Go, fierce man of bones!
    • I am still young! Go, dear,
    • And do not touch me.
    • And do not touch me.
  •  
  • Death:
    • Give me your hand, you beautiful and tender form!
    • I am a friend, and come not to punish.
    • Be of good cheer! I am not fierce,
    • Softly shall you sleep in my arms!

Here is a very good rendition of the song:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DgvM0g4fGBE

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