Vanitas

Italian
17th century, White marble

"Vanitas vanitatum, et omnia vanitas" (Vanity of vanities, and all is vanity), the famous opening words of the book of Ecclesiastes (or Qoheleth), are often used to describe the vanity of earthly possessions and the foolishness of those who strive to attain them. This sculpture, chosen by Franco Maria Ricci, follows a thread that was dear to him and that runs consistently through his refined collection; the Memento mori is neatly depicted here in white marble, its poignant perfection marked by two elements; the book and, above it, the mitre, on which a circle appears, decorated with three tiny dots on each side, a probable reference to the family or confraternity to which the deceased prelate belonged.