Epitaaf 1640 - 1703

This Epitaph, made by Jean Lepautre, presents us with an allegorical architectural structure, filled with symbols of mortality and remembrance. Note the cherubic figures on either side of the central tablet; youthful innocence juxtaposed with the stern inevitability of death. The wreath encircling the upper tablet evokes the ancient Roman tradition of honoring heroes and the deceased, signifying victory and eternal life. Yet, its placement above a blank space implies an absence, a void that the memory of the departed attempts to fill. We see this motif echoed through time, from laurel-crowned emperors to modern memorial wreaths. Below, the skull—a memento mori—stares out. This symbol serves as a stark reminder of our mortality. The skull appears throughout art history, from vanitas paintings of the Dutch Golden Age to contemporary art installations. It’s an enduring image that speaks to our collective anxieties about death. Its presence here provokes a deep, subconscious contemplation of our fleeting existence. It urges us to consider the legacy we leave behind.