The churchyard of St. Gregor (Saint Gregory) in Cologne, a baroque hall church
built 1765-71 that is also known as Elendskirche (Church of Misery), was the
place where in 17th century strangers, heretics, homeless and poor people were
layed to rest. Interesting is the illustration of the skeleton with mitre, key
and cross, thus showing death as an ecclesiastic dignitary. The seeming sneer of
the skull, allegorizing the triumph of death, contrasts ironically to this conception.