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
Scene, a church-yard. Death holding an hour-glass in one hand levels his
dart at a young man in the habit of an ecclesiastic, with a mask in his
hand. "Worlidge inv. Boitard sculp." The book unknown. 8vo.
Three figures of Death uncovering a circular mirror, with a group of
persons dying, &c. At bottom, INGREDIMVR. CVNCTI. DIVES. CVM. PAUPERE.
MIXTVS. J. Sturt sculp.
Death touching a globe, on which is inscribed VANITY, appears to a man in
bed. "Hayman inv. C. Grignion sc." 8vo.
To a little French work, intitled "Spectriana," Paris, 1817, 24mo. there
is a frontispiece on copper representing the subject of one of the
stories. A figure of Death incumbered with chains beckons to an armed man
to follow him into a cave.
CHAPTER XIV.
_Single prints connected with the Dance of Death._
1500-1600.
(N. B. The right and left hands are those of the spectator. The prints on
_wood_ are so specified.)
An ancient engraving, in the manner of Israel Van Meckenen. Death is
playing at chess with a king, who is alarmed at an impending check-mate. A
pope, cardinal, bishop, and other persons are looking on. Above are three
labels. Bartsch x. 55. No. 32.
Albert Durer's knight preceded by Death, and followed by a demon, a
well-known and beautiful engraving.
A very scarce and curious engraving, representing the interior of a
brothel. At the feet of a bed a man is sitting by a woman almost naked,
who puts her hand into his purse, and clandestinely delivers the money she
takes from it to a fellow standing behind one of the curtains. On the
opposite side is a grinning fool making significant signs with his fingers
to a figure of Death peeping in at a window. This singular print has the
mark L upon it, and is something in the manner of Lucas Van Leyden, but is
not mentioned in Bartsch's catalogue of his prints. Upright 7-1/2 by
5-1/2.
A small etching, very delicately executed, and ascribed to Lucas Van
Leyden, whose manner it certainly resembles. At a table on the left a
family of old and young persons are assembled. They are startled by the
appearance of a hideous figure of Death with a long beard and his head
covered. Near him is a young female, crowned with a chaplet of flowers,
holding in her hand a scull, Death's head, and hour-glass, and which the
father of the family turns round to contemplate. Above is an angel or
genius shooting an arrow at the family, and as it were at random. At top
on the right is the letter L, and the date 1523. See Bartsch, vol. vii. p.
435. Oblong, 5-1/2 by 4.
A small upright print of Death with a spade on his shoulder, and leading
an armed soldier. The mark L below on a tablet. Not mentioned by Bartsch.
A small circular engraving, of several persons feasting and dancing. Death
lies in wait behind a sort of canopy. Probably a brothel scene, as part of
the story of the prodigal son. The mark is L. Not noticed by Bartsch.
A reverse of this engraving, marked S.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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