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
XIV. Heineken, in his "Dictionnaire des Graveurs," iii. 77, mentions a
Dance of Death engraved about 1740 by Maurice Bodenehr of Friburg, but
without any further notice.
XV. Another very large print, 2 feet by 1-1/2, in mezzotinto, the subject
as in No. 10. but the figures varied, and much better drawn. At bottom,
"Joh. El. Ridinger excud. Aug. Vindel."
XVI. Newton's Dances of Death. Published July 12, 1796, by Wm. Holland,
No. 50, Oxford Street, consisting of the following grotesque subjects
engraved on copper. The size 6 inches by 5. 1. Auctioneer. 2. Lawyer. 3.
Old Maid on Death's back. 4. Gamblers. 5. Scolding Wife. 6. Apple-woman.
7. Blind Beggar. 8. Distressed Poet and Bailiff. 9. Undertaker. 10.
Sleeping Lady. 11. Old Woman and her Cats. 12. Gouty Parson feeding on a
tythe pig. 12. Same subject differently treated. 13. Sailor and
Sweetheart. 14. Physician, Gravedigger, and Death dancing a round. 15.
Market-man. 16. Doctor, sick Patient, and Nurse. 17. Watchman. 18.
Gravedigger putting a corpse into the grave. 19. Old maid reading, Death
extinguishes the candle. 20. Gravedigger making a grave. 21. Old Woman.
22. Barber. 23. Lady and Death reflected in the mirror. 24. Waiter. 25.
Amorous Old Man and Young Woman. 26. Jew Old Clothes-man. 27. Miser. 28.
Female Gin-drinker.
XVII. The Dance of Death modernised. Published July 13, 1800, and designed
by G. M. Woodward, Berners' Street, Oxford Street. Contains the following
caricatures. Size 5 by 4-1/2.
1. King. "Return the diadem and I'll follow you."
2. Cardinal. "Zounds, take care of my great toe, or I shall never rise
higher than a cardinal."
3. Bishop. "I cannot go, I am a bishop."
4. Old Man. "My good friend, I am too old, I assure you."
5. Dancing-master. "I never practised such an Allemande as this since I
have been a dancing-master."
6. Alderman. "If you detain me in this way my venison will be quite cold."
7. Methodist Preacher. "If you wo'nt take I, I'll never mention you or the
Devil in my sarmons as long as I lives."
8. Parson. "I can't leave my company till I've finish'd my pipe and
bottle."
9. Schoolmaster. "I am only a poor schoolmaster, and sets good examples in
the willage."
10. Miser. "Spare my money, and I'll go contented."
11. Politician. "Stay till I have finished the newspaper, for I am told
there is great intelligence from the continent."
12. Press-gang Sailor. "Why d-- me I'm one of your apprentices."
13. Beggar. "This is the universal dance from a king to a beggar."
14. Jockey. "I assure you I am engaged at Newmarket."
15. Undertaker. "A pretty dance this for an undertaker."
16. Gouty Man. "Buzaglo's exercise was nothing to this."
17. Poet. "I am but a poor poet, and always praised the ode to your honour
written by the late King of Prussia."
18. Physician. "Here's fine encouragement for the faculty."
19. Lawyer. "The law is always exempt by the statutes."
20. Old Maid. "Let me but stay till I am married, and I'll ask no longer
time."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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