Love and Death

George Frederic Watts had witnessed the slow decline of a talented young nobleman who died despite all the loving care of his wife. He then painted this allegory: a grand, universal theme showing Love trying to prevent Death entering the House of Life. He explained: 'Love is not restraining Death, for it cannot do so; I wish to suggest the passionate though unavailing struggle to meet the inevitable'.Love's pink wings and the falling petals of the rose emphasise the cold tones used for Death, particularly the icy grey of the flesh.