Ornament met twee tritonen en twee doodshoofden 16th century

This miniature Ornament with Two Tritons and Two Skulls was created by the Master of the Horses' Heads. Notice how the composition is structured around symmetry. The artist repeats forms and motifs to create balance. The tritons are mirror images, flanked by skulls and foliage that echo each other on either side of the central horse's head. The use of chiaroscuro enhances the contrast between light and shadow, defining the forms. This work presents a fascinating interplay of life and death. Skulls contrast with the vitality of the tritons and the flourishing foliage. These juxtaposed elements were emblematic of the Renaissance's fascination with mortality and the ephemeral nature of life. This small print thus becomes a memento mori, reminding us of the transience of existence through its formal structure and symbolic language. The artwork captures a moment in cultural history, where the boundaries between the classical and the macabre blurred.