2-995-420 - Heritage Art/Heritage Images

Signe Seeks Death in the Flames of Her Bower, mid-late 19th century. The story of Signy from Old Norse mythology is a classic narrative on the theme of love thwarted. Signy and Hagbard fall in love with each other but they belong to conflicting families. When Hagbard secretly contacts Signy he is condemned to death. Here we can see how Hagbard, prior to his execution, has raised his cloak on the gallows to indicate Signy's faithfulness. Signy sees the cloak and believes that Hagbard has been hanged. She commits suicide by setting fire to her hut.