Rosary

Creator Name

Unknown

Cultural Context

German

Date

16th century

Source

Metropolitan Museum of Art

About the work

Curationist Object Description

In the Renaissance, memento mori imagery was used as a device to communicate Christian beliefs. Morbid depictions of skulls and decay were intended to remind the viewer of their mortality. In the instance of rosary beads, wearers were reminded to pray and seek salvation.

Rosaries can be strings of beads or knots used to count prayers or aid in meditation. Intricately carved ivory beads were especially popular in 16th-century Europe among elites. Each bead on this German rosary depicts a grouping of symbols that signify the fragility of life. Meant to warn against a pleasure-driven life, rosaries like this became luxury items.

Metropolitan Museum of Art Object Description

Rosary

Work details

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Title

Rosary

Creator

Unknown

Worktype

Prayer beads; Rosary

Ivories-Elephant

Cultural Context

German

Material

Elephant ivory, silver, and partially gilded mounts

Dimensions

Overall: 24 11/16 x 2 1/8 x 1 3/4 in. (62.7 x 5.4 x 4.5 cm) Top Terminal: 1 5/8 x 1 5/16 x 1 1/2 in. (4.2 x 3.4 x 3.8 cm) 2nd bead: 2 1/16 x 1 11/16 x 1 in. (5.2 x 4.3 x 2.6 cm) 3rd bead: 2 3/16 x 1 7/8 x 11/16 in. (5.6 x 4.7 x 1.7 cm) 4th bead: 2 5/16 x 1 15/16 x 1 in. (5.8 x 4.9 x 2.6 cm) 5th bead: 2 9/16 x 2 x 1 1/16 in. (6.5 x 5.1 x 2.7 cm) 6th bead: 2 1/2 x 1 13/16 x 7/8 in. (6.3 x 4.6 x 2.2 cm) 7th bead: 2 3/4 x 2 1/8 x 1 in. (7 x 5.4 x 2.5 cm) Bottom Terminal: 2 1/16 x 1 7/16 x 1 15/16 in. (5.2 x 3.6 x 5 cm);
depth: 4.5centimetre;
width: 5.4centimetre;
depth: 1.7centimetre;
height: 5.6centimetre;
width: 4.7centimetre;
depth: 3.8centimetre;
height: 4.2centimetre;
width: 3.4centimetre;
depth: 5centimetre;
height: 5.2centimetre;
width: 3.6centimetre;
depth: 2.5centimetre;
height: 7centimetre;
width: 5.4centimetre;
depth: 2.2centimetre;
height: 6.3centimetre;
width: 4.6centimetre;
depth: 2.7centimetre;
height: 6.5centimetre;
width: 5.1centimetre;
depth: 2.6centimetre;
height: 5.8centimetre;
width: 4.9centimetre;
depth: 2.6centimetre;
height: 5.2centimetre;
width: 4.3centimetre

Technique

Relief carving

Language

Date

16th century

ca. 1500–1525

Provenance

Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1917

Style Period

Renaissance

Rights

Public Domain

Inscription

(on third bead): COGITA . / . MORI (think of death) (on sixth bead): [backwards S]V . e VOT[IS] / . ERI[backwards S] (you will be of prayer itself)

Location

Source

Metropolitan Museum of Art

Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY

Subjects

Memento mori; Head; Profile portrait

Women; Skeletons; Skulls; Men

Topic

Memento Mori

Curationist Metadata Contributors

Amanda Acosta; Christina Stone

All Works in Curationist’s archives can be reproduced and used freely. How to attribute this Work:

Unknown, Rosary, circa 1500-1525. Metropolitan Museum of Art. Each bead on this rosary depicts a grouping of symbols that signify the fragility of life. Public Domain.

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