Todays' Death

Today's Death

For The Wings Club

Myths and Legends Contest


About this piece:

Throughout our history death as a sentient entity is a concept that pervaded in many different cultures.


In England after the 15th century death was almost always portrayed as the stereotypical cloaked and skeletal visage of the grim reaper. A concept that is still widely used today almost to the point of over use.

In the Hebrew traditions death was known by the title the Angel of Death. In the tradition of passover, the Angel of Death became a harbringer of death to all those first born boys not Hebrew.

In the bible the fourth horseman of Revelation 6 is called Death.

In Greek mythology Thanatos is the personification of death. In the early accounts he was fearsome, a sword wielding man with a shaggy beard and fierce countenance.

How ever the early Greek artists did not follow this grim description of death. This led to a transformation of Thanatos.
In the later years of Greek myth Thanatos came to be seen as a beautiful youth, a promise of a peaceful life in the under world after death.
Death came to be associated with the peaceful passages into the next life rather than violent deaths of war, famine and ill woes.


I have taken a cue for this piece from the artistic ancient Greek version of death's visage in all but dress and giving him wings.
I have given him the wings he was often depicted with as his Roman counterpart Mors.
My version shows a more modern version of death as a sentient being. After all what handsome, young, male, sentient entity would roam around in an ancient toga today, or the shapeless long dark robes of 15th century imaginations, when such stylish options are available. He appearance does not frighten but rather bedazzles those he is sent to lead to the next life. He looks approachable, his intense eyes and slightly sly smile holding a promise of what is to come when death holds out his hand.


Young, virile, winged, vigorous, and hauntingly beautiful death descends upon us all.


Details:

All items rendered in Daz 3D, Poser, and post work done in Painter, Photoshop, and Paint Shop Pro.
Portions of the background and render repaints all
done in Painter.
All overlay textures my own private stock.

Tools:

Daz 3D, Poser, Photoshop, Paint Shop Pro, Scanner, Painter, wacom Tablet

Close-up can be seen here: [link]

Thank you for looking and may your day be magical!