THE DANCES OF DEATH
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 fromwhich 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.
PREFACE.
JOHN or HANS HOLBEIN was born at Basil in 1498,and died at London of the plague in 1554, aged 56. This admirablePainter was instructed in the art by his father JOHNHOLBEIN. In the early part of his life, he pursued his studieswith incessant assiduity; and being possessed of an elevatedgenius, his progress was exceedingly rapid; so that hesoon became far superior to his instructor. He painted equallywell in oil, water colours, and in fresco; and although he hadnever practised the art of painting in miniature till he resided inEngland, yet he afterwards carried it to its highest perfection.
The invention of Holbein was surprisingly fruitful, and oftenpoetical; his execution was remarkably quick, and his applicationindefatigable. His pencil was exceedingly delicate; hiscoloring had a wonderful degree of force; he finished his pictureswith exquisite neatness; and his carnations were life itself.He excelled all his cotemporaries in portrait, and his genuineworks are always distinguishable by the true, round, lively imitationof flesh visible in them, and also by the amazing delicacyof his finishing.
The genius and excellence of this master were sufficientlyshewn in the historical style, by two celebrated compositionswhich he painted in the Hall of the Steel-yard Company; ofwhich the subjects were the Triumph of Riches, and the conditionof Poverty: these two are universally admired for the richnessof the colouring, as also for the strong character of thefigures through t