Catalog Archive
Auction 138, Lot 876

"[Lot of 8 - Dance of Death]"

Subject: Prints Miscellaneous

Period: 1671-1816 (circa)

Publication:

Color:

Size:
7 x 4.8 inches
17.8 x 12.2 cm
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A. [Dans Macaber (Dance Macabre)], Anon., hand color (7" x 4.8"). Condition: Lightly toned with light soiling in upper blank margin, just entering image at top. (B+)

B. [Lot of 5] Dance of Death, by Wenceslaus Hollar, from The Dance of Death, circa 1816, black & white (2.3" x 3"). Five copperplate engravings from this fascinating work based upon Holbein's original 15th century designs. Wenceslaus Hollar, a Bohemian etcher, created the copper plates for the original publication in 1647. The plates then disappeared until the late 18th century, when several editions from the "newly discovered" plates began to appear. Although the traditional Dance of Death goes back to the Middle Ages, Hans Holbein altered the medieval concept to show the omnipresence and universality of death. This lot includes:
1) Mortalium Nobilitas…, which features a royal couple displaying Death's armorial shield.
2) The Abbess is shown being dragged away by a particularly frightening Death who takes her by her scapular as a bereaved nun wails in the background.
3) The Count is shown being crushed by his own armor by Death in the form of a peasant
4) The Mendicant Friar has been grabbed by Death by his cowl.
5) The Child is being pulled away from his family by Death, who holds an hourglass in the other hand.
Condition: A few faint spots in blank margins. (A)

C. [Lot of 2] Wenceslaus Hollar [and] Hans Holbein Painter, by Wenceslaus Hollar, circa 1671, black & white (3" x 4.5"). This is a self-portrait of Wenceslaus Hollar engraved by Francis Barlow and a self-portrait of Hans Holbein. Condition: A few faint spots. (B+)

References:

Condition:

See description.

Estimate: $500 - $700

Sold for: $375

Closed on 12/7/2011

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