These two details from Pieter Bruegel the Elder's The Triumph of Death (1562) illustrate graphically the manner in which the late Middle Ages viewed the subject of mortality. Death, whose analogue in this painting is an army of homicidal skeletons, was an everyday occurrence and people lived constantly in its midst. Infant mortality was high, plagues had the capacity to reduce whole populations by a half, folks lived shorter lives in relative poverty. It was also a very religious time, so death was situated within a more symbolic framework of reward and punishment, though as for that, everyone passed through it. There was no avoiding crossing the river.

I raise this cheery topic because the times we live in put me in mind of the medieval zeitgeist. If there was a Bruegel around today, I wonder what he might paint or create? How would he respond to the apparent signs of doom that some would argue are all about - the potential for annihilation, the pandemics and imminent climate threats? What would he make of the panic-buying of toilet roll during a virus scare? How about social media? The ghastly list goes on.

I think, on balance, he would opt for more skeletons on a murderous rampage.