Animal iconography, seven sins

Invidia (Envy), Medicine Cabinet

Invidia (Envy), Medicine Cabinet

The snake, a symbol of envy in iconographic art, is also a symbol of medicine. The ability of the snake to shed its skin has been associated with the circle of life. The snake is connected with pharmacology and antisepsis, as snakes possess an antivenom against their own poison. It's related to sciences associated with poison and death, such as toxicology. Its benevolent  as well as poisonous properties could be compared by the similar properties of medicine. Envy refers to the jealousy of mortal man for God's immortality, trying to cure their diseases and postpone their life as long as possible.

  

The cabinet contains:

 

painted skulls of two Royal Pythons ( Python regius ), the skull of a Boa ( Boa constrictor ) , a skull of a Gaboon Viper ( Bitis gabonicus ), a Wagler's pit viper's skull ( Tropidolaemus wagleri  ), and two Amur rat snake skulls ( Elaphe schrenckii ).

 

Two painted skins: A Cobra skin and a Python skin. 

 

A painted plywood box with five painted Prairie Rattlesnake rattles ( Crotalus virides )

 

 

Oil on snake skulls and skins, plywood and rattlesnake rattles, various dim., 2016

Both skins are in a Private collection