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
IX. A German Dance of Death, in eight oblong engravings on copper, 11 by
8-1/2, consisting of eight sheets and twenty-five subjects, as follow. 1.
A fantastic figure of a Death, with a cap and feathers, in the attitude of
dancing and playing on a flute. He is followed by another dancing skeleton
carrying a coffin on his shoulder. 2. Pope. 3. Emperor. 4 Empress. 5.
Cardinal. 6. King. 7. Bishop. 8. Duke or General. 9. Abbot. 10. Knight.
11. Carthusian. 12. Burgomaster. 13. Canon. 14. Nobleman. 15. Physician.
16. Usurer. 17. Chaplain. 18. Bailiff or Steward. 19. Churchwarden. 20.
Merchant. 21. Hermit. 22. Peasant. 23. Young Man. 24. Maiden. 25. Child.
This is a complete set of the prints, representing the Lubeck painting,
already described in p. 43. In the translation of the inscriptions, as
given by Dr. Nugent, two more characters are added at the end, viz. the
Dancing Master and the Fencing Master. On the spectator's left hand of No.
1. of these engravings, is a column containing the following inscription
in German, in English as follows: "Silence, fool-hardy one, whoever thou
art, who, with needless words, profanest this holy place. This is no
chapel for talking, but thy sure place is in Death's Dance. Silence then,
silence, and let the painting on these silent walls commune with thee, and
convince thee that man is and will be earth:" and on Nos. 4 and 5, the
words "Zu finden in Lubeck by Christian Gotfried Donatius."
X. The following entry is in the Stationers' books:
28 b. v{o} Januarij [1597.]
Tho. Purfoote, sen.} Entered their c. Mr. Dix and Wm. M. The
Tho. Purfoote, jun.} roll of the Daunce of Death, with pictures
} and verses upon the same VI_d_.
XI. In the catalogue of the library of R. Smith, secretary of the Poultry
Compter, which was sold by auction in 1682, is this article "Dance of
Death in the cloyster of Paul's, with figures, very old." Probably a
single sheet.
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