The Masque of the Red Death

The Masque of the Red Death

Death as he appears near the end of Maskerade, all dressed in red: laces, a hat with one feather (I know, I drew him with three feathers, one of them pretty long moreover, because I thought it looked better that way), a red cane, shoes with ruby buckles... in short, a red XVII / XVIII th century – like costume.

First, I thought this over-ornate costume could symbolize the very elaborated, unrealistic and colorful representation of death in opera but then, when I looked on the internet to have more information on Poe's short story, I discovered the phantom was dressed as the Red Death in the Phantom of the Opera when he attends a ball, so it's more likely an allusion to this.

I untitled it The Masque of the Red Death because the dead (I won't tell you who he is, it would spoil the novel for you if you haven't read it yet) thinks Death is wearing a mask.

If you wonder why there are grey sand and a starry sky, it's because the stage is turning into this apparently in the eye of the dead.

I prefer Death's usual more simple costume but I had fun drawing this one.

Disclaimer: Death and Discworld don't belong to me, they belong to Terry Pratchett, I just draw things inspired by his work for fun, which means for free.