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: