Memento Mori
(gratitude, hope)
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Memento mori is a Latin phrase meaning Remember that you are mortal. The phrase
originated with the tradition of a slave following behind a Roman general
during his victory procession and proclaiming, “Memento mori,”
or “Remember that you are just a man.” It was also used in Classical
times to suggest that one should be grateful for today because one never knows
when it will be one’s last. In Christianity the thought took on a new
direction. The emphasis shifted to the fleetingness of earthly pleasures,
and the promise of salvation. This theme was often portrayed through winged
skulls, hour glasses, ripe fruit, blooming flowers, or angels snuffing out
candles. Depending on the historical context, the focus could be either hopeful,
as the promise of an afterlife during the Black Death, or as a corrective
against the vanity of the rich. Made from glazed red earthenware clay, the
back of this limited edition piece displays the artist's signature stamp and
the LQP chop mark, 1 3/8" high.
