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
30. THE SHIP IN A TEMPEST. Death is vigorously employed in breaking the
mast. The owner of the vessel is wringing his hands in despair. One man
seems perfectly resigned to his impending fate. "Qui volunt ditescere,
incidunt in tentationem et laqueum, et cupiditates multas, stultas ac
noxias, quæ demergunt homines in exitium et interitum." 1 ad Tim. vi.
31. THE KNIGHT. After escaping the perils in his numerous combats, he is
vanquished by Death, whom he ineffectually resists. "Subito morientur, et
in media nocte turbabuntur populi, et auferent violentum absque manu." Job
xxxiv.
32. THE COUNT. Death, in the character of a ragged peasant, revenges
himself against his proud oppressor by crushing him with his own armour.
On the ground lie a helmet, crest, and flail. "Quoniam cum interierit non
sumet secum omnia, neque cum eo descendet gloria ejus." Psal. xlviii.
33. THE OLD MAN. Death leads his aged victim to the grave, beguiling him
with the music of a dulcimer. "Spiritus meus attenuabitur, dies mei
breviabuntur, et solum mihi superest sepulchrum." Job xvii.
34. THE COUNTESS. She receives from an attendant the splendid dress and
ornaments with which she is about to equip herself. On a chest are seen a
mirror, a brush, and the hour-glass of Death, who, standing behind her,
places on her neck a collar of bones. "Ducunt in bonis dies suos, et in
puncto ad inferna descendant." Job xxi.
35. THE NEW-MARRIED LADY. She is accompanied by her husband, who
endeavours to divert her attention from Death, who is insidiously dancing
before them and beating a tambour. "Me et te sola mors separabit." Ruth i.
36. THE DUCHESS. She is sitting up, dressed, in her bed, at the foot of
which are two Deaths, one of whom plays on a violin, the other is pulling
the clothes from the bed. "De lectulo, super quem ascendisti, non
descendes, sed morte morieris." 4 Reg. i.
37. THE PEDLAR. Accompanied by his dog, and heavily laden, he is
proceeding on his way, when he is intercepted by Death, who forcibly pulls
him back. Another Death is playing on a trump-marine. "Venite ad me omnes
qui laboratis, et onerati estis." Matth. xi.
38. THE HUSBANDMAN. He is assisted by Death, who conducts the horses of
his plough. "In sudore vultus tui vesceris pane tuo." Gen. iii.
39. THE CHILD. A female cottager is preparing her family mess, when Death
enters and carries off the youngest of her children. "Homo natus de
muliere, brevi vivens tempore, repletur multis miseriis: qui quasi flos
egreditur, et conteritur, et fugit velut umbra." Job xiv.
40. THE SOLDIER. He is engaged in unequal combat with Death, who simply
attacks him with a bone. On the ground lie some of his demolished
companions. In the distance, Death is beating a drum, and leading on a
company of soldiers to battle. "Cum fortis armatus custodit atrium suum,
&c. Si autem fortior eo superveniens vicerit eum, universa ejus arma
aufert, in quibus confidebat." Luc. xi.
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