Allegory of Vanity (Death Surprising a Woman)

Italian 16th Century

National Gallery of Art

The image depicts a nude person admiring their reflection in a large mirror. Their body is twisted as they reach up to touch their head, which is covered with a cloth. They have classical facial features with prominent eyebrows and a defined jawline. In the background, there is a skeletal figure holding an hourglass and a wheel, symbolizing the passage of time. Beside the person are a pair of wings, and in the corner, a column with a garland. The background shows an intricately detailed interior wall with a Latin phrase at the bottom and the artist's monogram in the lower right corner.