The Dance of Death

ances o

question, others of a similar nature, but with designs altogether different, and

in general, but more particularly against Popes John XXII. and Boniface VIII. A wolf, in a lecture to his children, instructs them in every kind of vice and wickedness, but is opposed, and his doctrines refuted, by an allegorical personage called Holy Doctrine. In a second vision Death appears to the author, accompanied by Fate, War, Famine,

church for presenting a common prayer to her which had been purposely ornamented with cuts by him.[132] This book was most probably compiled by the celebrated John Fox, and is accompanied with elegant borders in the margins of every leaf cut in wood by an unknown artist whose mark is , though they have been most unwarrantably ascribed t

ant, the Citizen, the Printers (in two compartments), the Rich Man, the Aged Man, the Artificer, the Husbandman, the Musicians (in two compartments), the Shepheard, the Foole, the Beggar, the Roge, of Youth, of Infancie." Then the females. "The Empresse, the Queene, the Princes, the Duchesse, the Countesse, the Vicountesse, the Baronnesse, the Lady, the Judge's Wife, the Lawyer's Wife, the Gentlewoman, the Alderman's Wife, the Marchantes Wife, the Citizen's Wife,

ptionibus insignit? versibus quoque Latinis et novis German

: vermitlest 60 dienstlicher kupferblatteren lehrreicher uberschrifften und beweglicher zu vier stimmen auszgesetzter Todtengesangen, vor disem angefangen durch Rudolffen Meyern S. von Zurich, &c. Jetzaber zu erwekung nohtwendiger Todsbetrachtung verachtung irdischer eytelkeit; und beliebung seliger ewigkeit zuend gebracht und verlegt durch Conrad Meyern Maalern in Zurich und daselbsten bey ihme zufinden. Getruckt zu Zürich bey Johann Jacob Bodmer, MDCL." 4to. that is: The Mirror of Death-that is-a b

tor. 20. The Earl and Countess. 21. The Knight. 22. The Nobleman. 23. The Judge. 24. The Steward, Widow, and Orphan. 25. The Captain. 26. An allegorical frontispiece to the Lower Classes. 26. The Physician. 27. The Astrologer. 28. The Merchant. 29. The Painter and his kindred: among these the old man is Dietrich Meyern; the painter resembles the portrait of Conrad Meyern in Sandrart, and the man at the table is probably Rudolph Meyern. 30. The Handcraftsman. 31. The Architect. 32. The In

ork was jointly executed by two excellent artists, Rodolph and Conrad Meyer or Meyern, natives of Zurich. The designs are chiefly by Rodolph, and the etchings by Conrad, consisting of sixty very masterl

tality, under the title of the Dance of Death, in 61 original copper prints of Rudolf and Conrad Meyern, renowned painters at Zurich, to which are added appropriate moral verses and inscriptions." Hamburg and Leipsig, 1759, 4to. The prolegomena are entirely different from those in the other edition, and an elaborate preface is added, g

bey-schrifften und hertz-beweglich angehangter Todten-lieder ehmahls herauss gegeben durch Rudolph und Conrad Meyern mahlern in Zurch Anjetzo aber mit Lateinischen unterschrifften der kupffer vermehret und aussgezieret von dem Welt-beruhmten Poeten Augustino Casimiro Redelio, Belg. Mech. Sac. C?s. Majest. L. P. Augsburg zu finden bey Johann Philipp Steudner. Druckts, Abraham Gugger. 1704." 4to. That is, "An edify

etchings are very inferior to the fine originals, and without the name of the artist. The dresses a

mer aerdige historien, Siu-rycke gedichten ende sedenleer-ende Beeldt-schetsen op gestelt door den eerweerdigen Pater Abraham à Sancta Clara Difinitor der Provincie van het order der ongeschoende Augustynen ende Predickant van syne Keyserlycke Majesteyt Leopoldus. Getrouwelyck overgeset vyt het hoogh-duyts in onse Nederduytsche Taele. Tot Brussel, by de Wed. G. Jacobs tegen de Baert-brugge in de Druckerye, 1730."

nature, allusive to the subjects, which are not uniformly a dance of Death. The best among them are the Painter, p. 45; the Drunkard, p. 75; the dancing Couple, Death playin

n im gemuth des geneighten lesers ein lebendige forcht und embsige vorsorg des Todes zu erwecken. Cum permissu superiorum. Passau Gedrucht bey Frederich Gabriel Mangold, hochfurst, hof buchdruckern, 1753. Lintz, verlegts Frantz Anton Ilger, Burgerl, Buchhandlern allda." Folio. In English, "The Spiritual Dance of Death in all kinds of pictures and representations, whereby persons of ever

4. Abbess. 15. Nun. 16. Emperor. 17. Empress. 18. King. 19. Queen. 20. Prince. 21. Princess. 22. Earl. 23. Countess. 24. Knight. 25. Nobleman. 26. Judge. 27. Counsellor. 28. Advocate. 29. Physician. 30. Astrologer. 31. Rich man. 32. Merchant. 33. Shipwreck. 34.

by M. Rentz, for the most part original, wi

e variation was printed

1. The Pope. 2. The King. 3. The Queen. 4. The General. 5. The Genealogist. 6. The Physician. 7. The Mot

ld of a midwife with a newly born infant in her hands. 8. With a shroud thrown over his shoulder he summons the female mourner. 9. In the character of a young man with a chapeau bras he brings a urinal for the physician's inspection. 10. The life-guardsman is accompanied by Death also on horseback and wearing an enormous military hat. 11. Death with a skillet on his head plunders the tinker's basket. 12. Death in a pair of jack-boots leads the postilion. 13. The lame beggar led by Death. 14. Death standing in a grave pulls the grav

enberg." The preface states that from the poverty of the German language in synonymous expressions for the allegorical or ideal Death, the author has ventured to coin the jocose appellation of Friend Hei

are caught by Death in a net,

mself with a pistol, and fa

cter of a beau visits

loon takes fire, and the

enters at a door inscribed SILENTIU

stributio

ine lady lays hands upon a beau, who seems to

eeding an infant with poison, the n

ot followed by his monks receives the fatal

n near a grave wrings his hands. Death

r. Death presents him

he woman of Rome. Death seize

eath shuts him in

s him at table, and forcibly

antastically apparelled, enters the circle of spect

emasonry). Death introduces a

Death enlists some country f

ortar, and blows up the monk. In the usual representatio

th a sword at Death, who is li

eath demolishes a student by throwing

appears to a schoolmistress.

ys violent hands on a lady, whom her male

shop, and directs his attention to

natomists joining hands a

s. 4, 13, 14, 15, and 18. The tex

mas Rowlandson, with metrical illustrations by the auth

Skaiters; the Duel; the Kitchen; the Toastmaster; the Gallant's downfall; and the fall of four in hand. The rest are comparatively feeble and irrelevant, and many o

riendly contributions of various writers, principally intended as illustrations of 24 plate

om the modest and ingenious author. Among these a new frontispiece, from the design of Adrian Van Venne, the celebrated Dutch poet and painter, is particula

s accélérés, depart à tout heure et de tous les point du globe." Par J. Grandville. No date, but about 1830

ng passengers in his omnibus to

as a postilion gives notice to a trav

." Death enters a watchmaker's shop, and shews

uis pas." Death having entered the apartment, the valet co

s these words to some cautious patients whilst he fills a vessel which they have broug

metier." A feast. Death as a waiter e

en serez pas faché, allez." Death, tricked out as a fille de

s suis ..." Death in the character of an undertaker,

e dernier go?t! un cheval qui fend l'air, et le meilleur groom de France." Death,

the work is on the plan of "the celebrated designs of Holbein," meaning of course the Lyons work, but to which it has not the smallest resemblance, and refers to Lord Orford for the mention of the Basle dance, which, as having two or sometimes three figures only, it does resemble. It then states that the late Mr. Van Assen had no intention of publishing these designs, which now appear in compliance with the wishes of many of his friends to possess them. They are very neatly engraved, and tinted in imitation of the original drawings, but are wholly destitute of that humour whi

mentioned in Nyerup's "Bidragh til den

ed a dance of Death for ladies' fans. He died only a few years ago. Published by Mr. Fore