Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, http://hdl.handle.net/10934/RM0001.COLLECT.30595
In book 2 chapter 48, Molanus tries to analyse by what means an image or an object of art can be considered sacred by discussing several different ecclesiastical councils. Besides objects that have been consecrated by a priest or other churchly authorities, there is a whole range of artworks that can be considered sacred or fit in an intermediate category of neither sacred nor profane. In the current chapter, ch. 49, Molanus discusses some of these objects and what matters can indicate their sacrality.
In chapter 49, regarding this question of paintings of this intermediate category Molanus says that diabolical images, images of the dead, images of hell and the like are all to be considered of this category. About dead Molanus refers to Sirach 38, 22.
“Since I am talking about the image of death, I add that it is more accurate to accompany the effigy of the dead in verse 22 of chapter 38 of Sirach: ‘Yesterday is mine, yours is today’, rather than: ‘today is mine, tomorrow yours.’ For no one can commit himself to place the next day under this bad omen since nothing is less determinate than the hour and day of death.”
“Hoc autem occasione mortis obiter adijcio, quod ad effigiem mortis rectius asscriberetur ex Eccli. cap. 38: ‘Mihi heri, et tibi hodi’, quam ‘hodie mihi, cras tibi.’ Corvinum enim illud cras nemo sibi polliceri potest, cum die et hora mortis nihil sit incertius.”
Molanus 1996, 265.
