Udkast til fodendestykket med den vingede død på Sophie Amalies kiste i Roskilde Domkirke 1685 - 1688

This is Lambert van Haven's sketch for the foot piece of Sophie Amalie's coffin, rendered in delicate pencil strokes. Here, a winged figure of Death is captured in the act of inscribing the Queen's name onto a tablet, a stark reminder of mortality. The image of death as a winged figure holding a book has deep roots, echoing ancient depictions of psychopomps, guiding souls to the afterlife. The tablet, often associated with divine decrees, lends death an air of inevitability, almost bureaucratic in its solemnity. One cannot help but think of the Fates, spinning, measuring, and cutting the thread of life, ancient symbols of destiny. Consider how such motifs recur across epochs, transformed yet fundamentally unchanged. This image, a poignant fusion of dread and acceptance, taps into our collective unconscious, reminding us of the ephemerality of existence. It's a powerful piece, engaging us on a subconscious level, prompting reflection on life, legacy, and the cyclical nature of time.