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
Other copies of them on wood occur in English books, but whether the whole
alphabet was copied would be difficult to ascertain. In a Coverdale's
Bible, printed by James Nicolson in Southwark, the letters A. I. and T.
occur. The subject of the A. is that of the fool and Death, from the R. of
the originals, with the addition of the fool's bauble on the ground: the
two other letters are like the originals. The size 2 inches by 1-1/2. The
same letters, and no others, occur in a folio English Bible, the date of
which has not been ascertained, it being only a fragment. The A is found
as late as 1618 in an edition of Stowe's "Survey of London." In all these
letters large white spots are on the back-ground, which might be taken for
worm-holes, but are not so. The I occurs in J. Waley's "table of yeres of
kings," 1567, 12mo.
An X and a T, an inch and 1/2 square, with the same subjects as in the
originals, and not only closely copied, but nearly as well engraved on
wood, are in the author's collection. Their locality has not been traced.
Hollar etched the first six letters of the alphabet from the initials
described in p. 214. They are rather larger than the originals, but
greatly inferior to them in spirit and effect.
Two other alphabets, the one of peasants dancing, the other of boys
playing, by the same artists, have been already described in p. 101, and
were also used by the Basle and other printers.
In Braunii Civitates Orbis terrarum, Par. I. No. 37, edit. 1576, there is
an H, inch and 1/2 square. The subject, Death leading a Pope on horseback.
It is engraved on wood with much spirit.
In "Prodicion y destierro de los Moriscos de Castilla, por F. Marcos de
Guadalajara y Xavier." Pamplona, 1614, 4to. there is an initial E cut in
wood with the subject of the cardinal, varied from that in Lutzenberger's
alphabet.
A Greek [Greek: P] on wood, with Death leading away the pope, was used by
Cephalæus in a Testament.
In "Fulwell's Flower of Fame," printed by W. Hoskins, 1575, 4to. is an
initial of Death leading a king, probably belonging to some alphabet.
An S rudely cut on wood with Death seizing two children was used by the
English printers, J. Herford and T. Marshe.
An A well cut on wood, representing Death striking a miser, who is
counting his money at a table. It occurs at fo. 5 of Quad's "fasciculus
geographicus." Cologne, 1608, small folio, printed by John Buxemacher.
An R indifferently cut on wood, two inches square. The subject, Death in a
grave pulls an old man towards him. A boy making his escape. From some
unknown book.
An S indifferently cut on wood, two inches square. Death shovelling two
sculls, one crowned, into a grave. On the shovel the word IDEM, and below,
the initials of the engraver or designer, I. F. From some unknown book.
An H, an inch and half square, very beautifully cut on wood. The letter is
surrounded by a group of people, over whom Death below is drawing a net.
It is from some Dutch book of emblems, about 1640.
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