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
II. Another edition of the same cuts. The title-page of the copy here
described is unfortunately lost. It has a dedication in Latin to three
patricians of Frankfort on the Maine by Daniel Meisner à Commenthaw, Boh.
Poet. L. C. dated, according to the Roman capitals, in a passage from
Psalm 46, in the year 1623. This is followed by the Latin epigram, or
address to the reader, by Geo. Æmylius, whose translations of the original
French couplets are also given, as well as the originals themselves. These
are printed on pages opposite to the subjects, but they are often very
carelessly transposed. At the end the date 1623 is twice repeated by means
of the Roman capitals in two verses from Psalms 78 and 63, the one German,
the other Latin. 12mo.
III. "Icones Mortis sexaginta imaginibus totidemque inscriptionibus
insignitæ, versibus quoque Latinis et novis Germanicis illustratæ.
Vorbildungen desz Todtes. In sechtzig figuren durch alle Stande und
Geschlechte, derselbigen nichtige Sterblichkeit furzuweisen, aus gebruckt,
und mit so viel ubors schriffren, auch Lateinischen und neuen Teutschen
Verszlein erklaret. Durch Johann Vogel. Bey Paulus Fursten Kunsthandlern
zu finden." On the back of this printed title is an engraving of a hand
issuing from the clouds and holding a pair of scales, in one of which is a
scull, in the other a Papal tiara, sceptre, &c. weighing down the scull.
On the beam of the scales an hour glass and an open book with Arabic
numerals. In the distance, at bottom, is seen a traveller reposing in a
shed. Above is a label, inscribed "Metas et tempora libro," and below,
"Ich Wage ziel und zeitten ab." Then follows a neatly engraved and regular
title-page. At top, a winged scull surmounted with an hour-glass, and
crossed with a spade and scythe. At bottom, three figures of Death sitting
on the ground; one of them plays on a hautboy, or trumpet, another on a
bagpipe, and the third has a drum behind him. The middle exhibits a
circular Dance of Death leading by the hand persons of all ranks from the
Emperor downwards. In the centre of this circle "Toden Tantz zu finden bey
Paulus Furst Kunst handlern," and quite at the bottom of the page, "G.
Stra. in. A. Khol fecit." Next comes an exhortation on Death to the reader
in Latin verse, followed by several poems in German and Latin, those in
German signed G. P. H. Immediately afterwards, and before the first cut of
the work is another elegantly engraved frontispiece representing an arched
gate of stone surmounted with three sculls of a Pope, a Cardinal, and a
King, between a vase of flowers on the right, and a pot of incense, a cock
standing near it, on the left. On the keystone of the gate are two tilting
lances in saltier, to which a shield and helmet are suspended. Through the
arch is seen a chamber, in which there seems to be a bier, and near it a
cross. On the left of the gate is a niche with a scull and bones in it.
Below are two large figures of Death. That on the left has a wreath of
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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