Memento Mori, 17th–18th century, Italy / Germany. Marble sculpture © PAB AGUIAR-BRANCO 

The Memento Mori tradition, rooted in the Latin expression “remember that you must die”, invites us to reflect on the transience of life and the inevitability of mortality. Far from being merely a symbol of death, the skull serves as a timeless reminder to embrace the present and consider what truly endures beyond our earthly existence.

This marble skull sculpture, dating from the 17th–18th century, stands as a powerful expression of this enduring reflection.