Doktor Schnabel von Rom ("Doctor Beak of Rome"), engraving by Paul Fürst, 1656
and another is an original outfit held in a museum in Denmark.
As medical thought of the time went, the belief was that plague was caused by miasma/putrid air so if you seal yourself in a suit and wear a mask - you will be fine. The leather mask's beak was filled with flower petals, herbs and incense and eye sockets were protected by red-tinted glass to ward off demons. They would use a long stick to examine bodies and direct corpse carts.
Needless to say, fleas were able to get anywhere they wanted and plague marched on, killing thousands.
Being a plague doctor was unpleasant, dangerous, and difficult. Their chances of survival in times of a plague epidemic were slim.
Its my first attempt to paint miniature/bust. Oils, acrylics, pastels.
