Memento mori Roelandt Jacobsz Savery (1576-1639)

The composition presents a still life arrangement centered around decay and mortality. A dense accumulation of animal remains dominates the foreground; skulls of various sizes – likely representing human, equine, and smaller mammals – are scattered amidst bones, antlers, and a vibrant green frog. The meticulous rendering of these skeletal elements emphasizes their texture and form, lending them an unsettling realism.
The scene is set within a dark, overgrown environment. Tall grasses and dense foliage obscure the background, creating a sense of enclosure and suggesting a wilderness reclaiming what was once living. Several birds are depicted in flight or perched amongst the vegetation; their presence introduces a dynamic element to the otherwise static arrangement of bones. The birds varied postures – some ascending, others descending – might symbolize the fleeting nature of life and the inevitability of transition.
A cluster of mushrooms grows near the central grouping of skulls, adding another layer of symbolic meaning. Mushrooms are often associated with decomposition and regeneration, further reinforcing the theme of cyclical existence. Their presence suggests that even in death, there is a process of renewal.
The overall effect is one of somber contemplation. The artist’s attention to detail – the precise depiction of bone structure, the careful rendering of foliage – serves not merely as an exercise in technical skill but also to draw the viewer into a meditation on mortality and the transience of earthly existence. The arrangement seems less about celebrating death than it is about acknowledging its presence within the natural order, prompting reflection on the fragility of life and the ultimate fate that awaits all living beings.