Dance of Death

This fresco, painted in 1474 on a wall of a cemetery church in Croatia, depicts figures meant to represent all the “types” in medieval society. It should be read from right to left. Not pictured here, but first in line, is the pope, followed by a cardinal and a bishop. The portion shown here comes next: the king, who holds a scepter; the queen; and a landlord, carrying a small barrel. At the far left is a child. Even farther to the left (but not shown here) come a beggar, a knight, and a shopkeeper. All the figures are flanked by gleeful, dancing skeletons. The message is clear: everyone, even the most exalted, ends up in the grave. (De Agostini Picture Library / Alfredo Dagli Orti / Bridgeman Images.)