This edition of The Dance of Death reproduces a complete set from the British Museum, with many details highlighted and examples of other works in this grisly field.
Hans Holbein (Author)
Hans Holbein the Younger (1497-1543) was a Swiss and German artist
renowned for his portraiture. As a young artist Holbein worked in
Basel where he produced one of his well-known works The Dance of
Death, a series of 41 wood cuttings on the medieval concept of the
danse macabre. In 1526 Holbein travelled to England on Erasmus's
recommendation and there he executed some of his most impressive
works, such as his portrait of Sir Thomas More. He returned to
England in 1532 at a time of political and religious turmoil under
Henry VIII's reign and found favour with the Boleyn family and
Thomas Cromwell, becoming the King's Painter in 1536. He died in
London in 1543.
The underlying message of the series is, of course, that Death
comes for us all, and if it interrupts the recreations of the
wealthy rather more insolently than those of the poor, then let
that be a lesson to us... Rublack's commentary is useful and
illuminating, pointing out details, providing information about the
time Holbein lived in, and even making a plausible case for her own
views on Holbein's position on the reformation.
*Guardian*
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