Produced by Chris Curnow and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive) THE DANCES OF DEATH [Illustration] [Illustration: _Mors Sceptra ligonebus æquat._] _LE TRIOMPHE DE LA MORT_ _Gravé d’aprés les Dessins originaux de_ JEAN HOLBEIN _par_ DAVID DEUCHAR 1786 _Deuchar fecit_ THE DANCES OF DEATH, THROUGH THE VARIOUS STAGES OF HUMAN LIFE: WHEREIN THE CAPRICIOUSNESS OF THAT TYRANT IS EXHIBITED _IN FORTY-SIX COPPER PLATES_; DONE FROM The Original Designs, WHICH WERE CUT IN WOOD, AND AFTERWARDS PAINTED, _BY JOHN HOLBEIN_, IN THE TOWN HOUSE OF BASIL. TO WHICH ARE PREFIXED, _Descriptions of each Plate in French and English, with the Scripture Text from which the Designs were taken_. ETCHED BY D. DEUCHAR, F.A.S. London: PRINTED BY W. SMITH AND CO. KING STREET, SEVEN DIALS, FOR JOHN SCOTT, NO. 447, STRAND; & THOMAS OSTELL, NO. 3, AVE MARIA LANE. 1803. [Illustration] PREFACE. JOHN or HANS HOLBEIN was born at Basil in 1498, and died at London of the plague in 1554, aged 56. This admirable Painter was instructed in the art by his father JOHN HOLBEIN. In the early part of his life, he pursued his studies with incessant assiduity; and being possessed of an elevated genius, his progress was exceedingly rapid; so that he soon became far superior to his instructor. He painted equally well in oil, water colours, and in fresco; and although he had never practised the art of painting in miniature till he resided in England, yet he afterwards carried it to its highest perfection. The invention of Holbein was surprisingly fruitful, and often poetical; his execution was remarkably quick, and his application indefatigable. His pencil was exceedingly delicate; his coloring had a wonderful degree of force; he finished his pictures with exquisite neatness; and his carnations were life itself. He excelled all his cotemporaries in portrait, and his genuine works are always distinguishable by the true, round, lively imitation of flesh visible in them, and also by the amazing delicacy of his finishing.