The Dance of Death: Exhibited in Elegant Engravings on Wood with a Dissertation on the Several Representations of that Subject but More Particularly on Those Ascribed to Macaber and Hans HolbeinDouce, Francis
History
The Dance of Death: Exhibited in Elegant Engravings on Wood with a Dissertation on the Several Representations of that Subject but More Particularly on Those Ascribed to Macaber and Hans Holbein
Douce, Francis
Bible. Old Testament -- Illustrations; Dance of death
8. "--Pour une consultation, Docteur, j'en suis j'vous suis ..." Death in
the character of an undertaker, his hearse behind, invites an old man to
follow him.
9. "Oui, Madame, ce sera bien la promenade la plus delicieuse! une voiture
dans le dernier goût! un cheval qui fend l'air, et le meilleur groom de
France." Death, habited as a beau, conducts a lady followed by her maid to
a carriage in waiting.
XIII. The British Dance of Death, exemplified by a series of engravings
from drawings by Van Assen, with explanatory and moral essays. Printed by
and for George Smeeton, Royal Arcade, Pall Mall. 8vo. no date. With a
frontispiece designed by Geo. Cruikshank, representing a crowned sitting
Death, holding a scythe in one hand, and with the other leaning on a
globe. This is circular in the middle. Over it two small compartments of
Death striking an infant in the cradle, and a sick man. At bottom, two
others of Death demolishing a glutton and a drunkard. A short preface
states that the work is on the plan of "the celebrated designs of
Holbein," meaning of course the Lyons work, but to which it has not the
smallest resemblance, and refers to Lord Orford for the mention of the
Basle dance, which, as having two or sometimes three figures only, it
does resemble. It then states that the late Mr. Van Assen had no intention
of publishing these designs, which now appear in compliance with the
wishes of many of his friends to possess them. They are very neatly
engraved, and tinted in imitation of the original drawings, but are wholly
destitute of that humour which might have been expected from the pencil of
the ingenious inventor, and which he has manifested on many other
occasions. The subjects are the following: 1. The Infant. 2. Juvenile
piety. 3. The Student. 4. The Sempstress. 5. The musical Student. 6. The
Dancer. 7. The female Student. 8. The Lovers. 9. The industrious Wife. 10.
The Warrior. 11. The Pugilists. 12. The Glutton. 13. The Drunkard. 14. The
Watchman. 15. The Fishwoman. 16. The Physician. 17. The Miser. 18. Old
Age. Death with his dart is standing near all these figures, but does not
seem to be noticed by any of them.
XIV. A Dance of Death in Danish rimes is mentioned in Nyerup's "Bidragh
til den Danske digtakunst historie." 1800. 12mo.
XV. John Nixon Coleraine, an amateur, and secretary to the original Beef
Stake Club, etched a dance of Death for ladies' fans. He died only a few
years ago. Published by Mr. Fores, of Piccadilly, who had the
copper-plates, but of which no impressions are now remaining.
CHAPTER XI.
_Dances of Death, with such text only as describes the subjects._
I. Six small circles on a single sheet, engraved on copper by Israel Van
Meckenen. 1. Christ sitting on his cross. 2. Three skulls on a table. 3.
Death and the Pope. 4. Death riding on a lion, and the Patriarch. 5. Death
and the Standard-bearer. 6. Death and the Lady. At top "memento mori," at
bottom "Israhel V. M."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account