"The plague lacerated bodies, covering them in 'boils, pustules, and itchy rashes' that gave off a foul stench. The rich died in the same way as the poor. Would you like to know how many Venetians passed away to their Eternal Father? Eighty thousand, just think, in seventeen months; twelve thousand in November of 1630; in a single day, on the 9th, five hundred and ninety-five. " Alvise Zen, Doctor of the plague
It was competitive art actually. However, the owner of the competition has left without any apologies right after he received the hi-res artworks. The website where the competition was declared has also died ([link]).
I love the way this image is composed. Very Renaissance by the depiction of garb, and the emphasis on shadows reminds me of Rembrandt's work. Though it might be the figures on the boat that makes me think of Rembrandt.
Then you see the death and the rats, with a doctor abroad, and it becomes a piece of despair in hiding the sorrow in mankind darkest times.