Design for a sepulchral monument with an allegory of Time; verso: Design for a column 1686 - 1724

Pieter Verbruggen the Younger created this design for a sepulchral monument using pen, black chalk, and red chalk. Verbruggen lived in a society deeply shaped by the Catholic Church, where death and remembrance were central themes in both art and life. In the sketch, we see an allegory of Time, a winged skeleton, pensively seated next to what appears to be an angel. This interplay speaks to the 17th-century preoccupation with mortality and the passage of time, concepts often explored through religious and allegorical lenses. The use of a winged skeleton challenges and reinterprets traditional religious iconography, merging it with a stark reminder of human fragility. This piece reflects not just the cultural norms around death but also the personal and emotional responses to it. Verbruggen invites us to consider our relationship with time, remembrance, and mortality. It's a poignant reflection on the ephemeral nature of human existence.