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
Upright, 3-1/2 by 2. This is not included in his Dance of Death.
The same slightly retouched, with German verses.
A small engraving, by Chodowiecki, of Death approaching a dying man
attended by his family and a physician. Oblong, 2-1/2 by 2.
A modern engraving, intitled "An emblem of a modern marriage." Death
habited as a beau stands by a lady, who points to a monument inscribed
"Requiescat in pace." Above a weeping Cupid with an inverted torch. At
bottom
... No smiles for us the Godhead wears,
His torch inverted and his face in tears.
Drawn by M. H. from a sketch cut with a diamond on a pane of glass.
Published according to act of parliament, June 15, 1775.
A modern caricature intitled "A patch for t'other eye." Death is about to
place a patch on the right eye of an old general, who has one already on
the other. His hat and truncheon lie on the ground, and he is drawing his
sword for the purpose of opposing the intention of his grim adversary,
exclaiming at the same time, "Oh G--d d--n ye, if that's your sport, have
at ye." Upright, 8 inches by 7.
A small engraving by Chr. de Mechel, 1775, of an apothecary's shop. He
holds up a urinal to a patient who comes to consult him, behind whom Death
is standing and laying hands upon him. Below these verses:
Docteur, en vain tu projettes
De prononcer sur cette eau,
La mort rit de tes recettes
Et conduit l'homme au tombeau.
Oblong, 4 by 3.
An anonymous and spirited etching of Death obsequiously and with his arms
crossed entering a room in which is a woman in bed with three infants.
With uplifted arms she screams at the sight of the apparition. Below in a
corner the husband, accompanied with four other children. Upright, 11 by
10-1/2.
"The lawyer's last circuit." He is attacked by four Deaths mounted on
skeleton horses. He is placed behind one of them, and all gallop off with
him. A road-post inscribed "Road to hell." Below, the lines from Hamlet,
"Where be his quiddits now? his quillets, his cases, his tenures, and his
tricks, &c." Published April 25, 1782, by R. Smith, opposite the Pantheon,
Oxford Street. Oblong, 10 by 6-1/2.
1800.
A modern wood-cut of a drinking and smoking party. Demons of destruction
hover over them in the characters of Poverty, Apoplexy, Madness, Dropsy,
and Gout. In the bowl on the table is a monstrous head inscribed
"Disease." Behind, a gigantic figure of Death with scythe and hour-glass.
Oblong, 3-1/2 by 3.
A Sketch by Samuel Ireland, after Mortimer, in imitation of a chalk
drawing, apparently exhibiting an Englishman, a Dutchman, and a Spaniard.
Death behind stretching his arms upon all of them. Oblong 10-1/2 by 8.
A wood print intitled "Das betruhte Brautfest." Death seizes a man looking
at a table covered with wedding-cakes, &c. From a modern Swiss almanack.
Oblong 6-1/2 by 5-1/2.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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