The Death of Adonis 1535 - 1555

Jean Mignon rendered "The Death of Adonis" in ink on paper around 1550. This depicts Adonis, the mortal youth beloved by Aphrodite, succumbing to a fatal wound from a wild boar, with Cupid hovering above. Observe Adonis's languid repose, an echo of countless fallen heroes across millennia. This mirroring is no accident; it speaks to a primal, collective memory. Think of the countless Deposition scenes depicting Christ being taken down from the cross. The motif of the lamenting figures, so poignantly captured here, resonates deeply, doesn't it? The enduring allure of the dying hero figure is not just about death, but about the cyclical nature of life and the promise of rebirth. This image encapsulates the eternal dance of death and renewal.