The fear of death, which gripped Europe in the 14th—15th centuries, after the plague, is reflected in the popularity of this topic on the pages of block-books. The art of the 15th century introduced the theme of Dances of Death, in which Death, in the form of a skeleton, would suddenly appear among the living, involve them in its dance and take them away.
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The Art of Dying
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Dances of Death. Schedel’s Chronicle
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In contrast to this, almost blind, fear of sudden death, a new image was created — Ars Moriendi (“The Art of Dying”). The text of Ars Moriendi was a kind of manual for priests who would administer the viaticum. Later, the Art of Dying, which also served as a material for sermons, grew widespread in the form of illustrated books and became one of the most popular publications of the 15th century.
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The text of the book is explained by eleven images, each of which occupies a whole spread. The fate of the immortal soul is decided at the moment of physical death. The first ten engravings represent a man lying on his deathbed, who is tempted five times by the forces of hell trying to shake his faith, but after each of the tests by the forces of evil, the book demonstrates the intercession of Christ, the Mother of God, and the saints. The last, eleventh, engraving shows the victory of the forces of good and the salvation of the human soul, despite all the evil machinations.
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