This is a drawing from an unknown artist around the year 1583 which represents a Flagellant master leading his band of followers. Flagellants practice the mortification of the flesh by usually whipping themselves because of their sinful nature. Though this practice can be dated back to the 11th century, it was more wide-spread and became a movement in the 14th century “peaking” around the time of the Black Death bubonic plague (1346-1353)
The hood worn is a “capirote”, a Catholic conical hat worn by the penitents so that attention is not drawn towards themselves as they repent, but instead to God. Sometimes Flagellants will have a basic mask that doesn’t necessarily have a conical shape.
I found this art drawing interesting since Peste Noire used this as a cover of La Sanie des siècles – Panégyrique de la dégénérescence (album)