Martin Wittfooth - Pale Horse

12” x 11” // Oil on panel

“The Pale Horse of the lore of the four horsemen of the Apocalypse has an interesting dual nature: the horseman of Death has also appeared in ancient literature as the horseman of Conquest, a parallel that has interesting connotations. This fourth, pale horse, was the personification of Death with Hades following him jaws open receiving the victims slain by Death. Its commission was to kill upon the Roman Earth with all of the four judgements of God — with sword, famine, pestilence and wild beasts. The deadly pale and livid appearance displays a hue symptomatic of approaching empire dissolution.”