Death's Heads and Tomb Markers of Amsterdam and Leiden

While in the Netherlands last week for the Amsterdam Anatomy Weekend at the Museum Vrolik, I had the time to take in a three wonderful churches: de Nieuwe Kerk ("new church") and de Oude Kerk ("old church") in Amsterdam and, in Leiden, Pieterskerk (or "Pilgrim Fathers' Church"), thanks very much to Bart Grob and his magnificent Museum Boerhaave bicycle.

All of the churches were, on their own, wonderfully captivating spaces, lofty and sober and aglow with that very special Dutch light; they were also, to my delight, filled with dozens of fascinating tomb markers, many of them engraved with fanciful death's heads and other enigmatic images. You can see a few of my favorite examples above, and can view a more complete photoset by clicking here.

The Decorative Tomb Skulls of Tuscany : Pisa's Camposanto Monumentale

Above are a few decorative tomb skulls--and a corpse-themed tomb sculpture--that Evan and I encountered yesterday at Pisa's Camposanto Monumentale (Monumental Cemetery). Sadly, Buonamico Buffalmacco's magnificent fresco "The Three Dead and the Three Living and The Triumph of Death" (1338-39)--also housed by the Camposanto--was much damaged by allied bombing in 1944, though what remains is wonderfully evocative; you can see what remains and learn more about it by clicking here.