Questions about The Triumph of Death

Short answers, pulled from the story.

When was The Triumph of Death painting completed by Pieter Bruegel the Elder?

The year 1562 marks the completion of an oil panel painting by Pieter Bruegel the Elder. It depicts a panorama where an army of skeletons wreaks havoc across a blackened, desolate landscape.

Where is The Triumph of Death painting currently located in Madrid?

The painting has been in the Museo del Prado in Madrid since 1827. It remains part of the BBC's 100 Great Paintings collection today.

What historical event does The Triumph of Death reflect during the mid-sixteenth century?

This work reflects the severe risk of plague during the mid-sixteenth century when it was created. Art historian James Snyder emphasizes the scorched, barren earth devoid of any life as far as the eye can see.

Which classical figures are represented by women holding threads and spindles in The Triumph of Death?

A woman holds a slender thread about to be cut by scissors representing Atropos while another holds a spindle and distaff serving as symbols for Clotho and Lachesis. These elements represent another Bruegel interpretation of the Three Fates.

How many versions of The Triumph of Death exist attributed to Pieter Bruegel the Younger?

A 1597 version exists by Jan Brueghel the Younger held at Eggenberg Palace in Graz. Another 1626 version resides in an unknown private collection and a 1608 version can be found at Kunstmuseum Basel.

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