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
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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
A very ancient and masterly drawing of Death and the beggar, the outlines
black on a blue ground, tinted with white and red. The figures [monogram]
at bottom indicate its having been part of a Macaber Dance. Upright, 5-1/4
by 4. In the author's possession.
Sir Thomas Lawrence had four very small drawings by Callot that seemed to
be part of an intended series of a Dance of Death. 1. Death and the
bishop. 2. Death and the soldier. 3. Death and the fool. 4. Death and the
old woman.
An extremely fine drawing by Rembrandt of four Deaths, their hands joined
in a dance, their faces outwards. One has a then fashionable female cap on
his head, and another a cap and feather. Upright, 9-1/2 by 6-1/2. In the
author's possession.
A very singular drawing in pen and ink and bistre. In the middle, a
sitting figure of a naked man holding a spindle, whilst an old woman,
leaning over a tub on a bench, cuts the thread which he has drawn out.
Near the old woman Death peeps in behind a wall. Close to the bench is a
woman sitting on the ground mending a piece of linen, a child leaning on
her shoulder. On the other side is a sitting female weaving, and another
woman in an upright posture, and stretching one of her hands towards a
shelf. Oblong, 11-1/4 by 8. In the author's possession.
An anonymous drawing in pen and ink of a Death embracing a naked woman.
His companion is mounted on the back of another naked female, and holds a
dart in each hand. Oblong, 4 by 3-1/4. In the author's possession.
A single sheet, containing four subjects, skilfully drawn with a pen and
tinted in Indian ink. 1. An allegorical, but unknown figure sitting on a
globe, with a sort of sceptre in his right hand. Death seizes him by his
garment with great vigour, and endeavours to pull him from his seat. 2.
Two men eating and drinking at a table. Death, unperceived, enters the
room, and levels his dart at them. 3. Death seizes two naked persons very
amorously situated. 4. Death seizes a miser counting his money. In the
author's possession.
Twenty-four very beautiful coloured drawings by a modern artist from those
in the public library at Berne that were copied by Stettler from Kauw's
drawings of the original painting by Nicolas Manuel Deutch. In the
author's possession, together with lithographic copies of them that have
been recently published at Berne.[137]
A modern Indian ink drawing of a drunken party of men and women. Death
above in a cloud levels his dart at them. Upright, 5-1/4 by 3-1/2. In the
author's possession.
A spirited drawing in Indian ink of two Deaths as pugilists with their
bottle-holders. Oblong, 7 by 4-1/2. In the author's possession.
A pen and ink tinted drawing, intitled "The Last Drop." A female seated
before a table on which is a bottle of gin or brandy. She is drinking a
glass of it, Death standing by and directing his dart at her. In the
author's possession.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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