A Morbid Exhibit

A couple weeks ago I made another visit to the San Carlos Museum to see another special exhibit.   The exhibit is called "El Beso de la Muerte" ("The Kiss of Death").  It opened on the 23rd of October... a very appropriate show for the Day of the Dead season... but it will run until March of next year.  

The show deals with the depiction of death in 19th century art.  It is obviously a morbid exhibit, and some of the images are distressing.  (There is even a warning sign at the entrance to that effect.)

The show is divided into four parts.  The first part is called "The Waiting Room for Death", which depicts illness.  In that era, before modern medical techniques and treatments, even a seemingly innocuous illness could be the prelude to death.  

For some, the only hope was prayer to the saints.  If the person recovered, a small painting on metal, known as an ex-voto, would commemorate the answered prayers.

This ex-voto tells of a women who was gravely ill and vomiting blood.  Her prayers to the Virgin of los Remedios and the Holy Child of Atocha were answered, and she recovered.

This booklet called "Health in the Home" contains 300 useful medical prescriptions.  The illustration was done by the famous Mexican engraver José Guadalupe Posada.

This bronze statue of the "Dying Napoleon" was done by Swiss sculptor Vincenzo Vela in 1867.

The second part of the exhibit is called "Face to Face with Death", and it deals with the inevitability of death.

"This Is the Mirror that Does Not Deceive You"

by Tomás Mondragón

1856

Wood carvings by an unknown 18th century artist

"The Funeral March of Chopin"

by Severo Amador

"The Dream of a Gentleman"

by an unknown 19th century painter

The next part of the exhibit is entitled "Death Portrayed".  It contains representations (paintings, photographs and sculptures) of the deceased.

"Dead Mother"

by Julio Ruelas

1901

"Portrait of a Dead Nun"

"Woman Dressed as a Bride"

"The Death of Bernardina Madrueña"

unknown artist

1857

"Portrait of a Dead Child"

"Woman with Dead Baby"

Death mask of President Benito Juárez

Cadaver of Emperor Maximilian of Mexico after his execution by firing squad

The final portion is called "Places of Memory" which deals with the customs of mourning.

Grave markers of girls who died in infancy

Cemetery sculpture

A widow's visiting card

Items used by a woman in mourning

"Woman Dressed in Black"

by Germán Gedovius

1909

I promise that my next entry will be more cheerful!