Karl Wilhelm Diefenbach: The Isle of the Dead (1905)

(Private Collection)

A painting by the German artist Karl Wilhelm Diefenbach (1851-1913). This painting was inspired by a famous painting by the Swiss artist Arnold Böcklin (1827–1901), also called "the Isle of the Dead". The painting shows an unknown remote rocky island and an Egyptian style architecture - including two sphinxes. A small boat is rowing towards the island, with an oarsman manoeuvring the boat from the stern. In the bow, facing the gate is a standing figure clad entirely in white who is standing before a white object which is decorated with flowers. This object is probably a coffin with the person in white the deceased. Painting from 1905.