Begrafenisstoet van paus Clemens X 1650 - 1691

This etching, made by Giovanni Battista Falda, depicts the funeral procession of Pope Clement X. Dominating the scene are the soldiers, clerics, and symbols of papal authority, all moving in solemn procession. The presence of death, though unstated, is palpable through these symbols of power, the promise of eternal life, and the earthly display of military strength. Note the stark figure of Death itself, seated at the lower register. Here, the grim reaper, this ancient symbol, reminds us that mortality is a part of life. We see it echoed throughout history, from medieval morality plays to modern-day cartoons. This symbolic figure acts as a memento mori. Consider how the collective memory of loss and the subconscious fear of death influence the pomp and circumstance on display, engaging viewers with a deep sense of mortality.