Monday, July 28, 2008
Ars Moriendi
Many hospice organizations have printed up little booklets for families to read giving a "what to expect" of the dying process. This idea is by no means a new concept. In fact, one of the first books printed with movable type back in the 1400's was just such a book. "Ars Moriendi" (The Art of Dying) was a book written by an anonymous Dominican friar in 1415. It was THE book on how to prepare to die and how to die well. You can be the judge of how relevant such a book would be for today.
The book describes the five temptations that dying people face. In 5 different scenes a devil invites the temptations of lack of faith, despair, impatience, vanity and greed. The next 5 scenes depicted are the solutions to these temptations, what one must seek to die well: Faith, hope, patience, humility and generosity. This line drawing is from the artist Master E.S. from 1440, one of the earliest depictions of the Ars Moriendi text, entitled "Impatience". Note the chachetic look of the dying man, his ribs clearly visible. See the table knocked down and the dying mans leg kicking a caregiver in the back. When I see this picture I think of delirium, or terminal restlessness that we see in the dying process. I suppose labeling it impatience was the best reason they had to give such extreme behavior.
The artist Hieronymus Bosch also depicted this theme in his painting entitled "Ars Moriendi"(1490). In this illustration he attempts to depict the struggle between
good and evil. The angel is on the dying man's deathbed attempting to direct his eyes upward to the crucifix illuminated in the window by divine light. Meanwhile a little devil is attempting to give the man a purse of money. We are left not knowing which path this man will take, as death sneaks into the room with an arrow in his hand.
What would a picture of Ars Moreindi look like today? How would we in modern times communicate what it means to die well? Perhaps the ideas of faith, hope, patience, humility and generosity are still components of the process even now.
Works: Master E.S.(1440) "Impatience"
Bosch, Heronymus(1490) "Ars Moreindi"
3 Responses to “Ars Moriendi”
August 6, 2008 at 8:37 PM
I have seen Dr. Clarkson give a talk on this subject for Palliative Care Grand Rounds and it was one of the top 5 lectures I have ever seen. So if you are looking for a good outside speaker this would be a good one!
August 12, 2008 at 8:50 PM
When you asked what dying well would look like in modern times my mind automatically thought of the novel Change of Heart, by jodi picoult. I definitley recomend it. I see it as a constant battle between what we see and what we'd like to see .. . through life and death. There's a multitude of ideas and perseptions behind and within that which is presented. Picoult has created another wonderfully heartbreaking novel.
March 16, 2011 at 11:54 PM
When you asked what dying well would look like in modern times my mind automatically thought of the novel Change of Heart, by jodi picoult. I definitley recomend it. I see it as a constant battle between what we see and what we'd like to see .. . through life and death. There's a multitude of ideas and perseptions behind and within that which is presented. Picoult has created another wonderfully heartbreaking novel.
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