_Dances of Death, with such text only as describes the subjects._
I. Six small circles on a single sheet, engraved on copper by Israel Van
Meckenen. 1. Christ sitting on his cross. 2. Three skulls on a table. 3.
Death and the Pope. 4. Death riding on a lion, and the Patriarch. 5. Death
and the Standard-bearer. 6. Death and the Lady. At top "memento mori," at
bottom "Israhel V. M."
II. A Dance of Death, engraved on copper, by Henry Aldegrever. 1. Creation
of Eve. 2. Adam and Eve eating the forbidden fruit. 3. Expulsion from
Paradise. 4. Adam digging, Eve spinning. 5. Death and the Pope. 6. Death
and the Cardinal. 7. Death and the Bishop. 8. Death and the Abbot. All
these have the date 1541, and with some variations follow the Lyons
woodcuts. They have scriptural texts in Latin. 12mo. The whole were
afterwards copied in a work by Kieser, already described, p. 121.
III. A Dance of Death, consisting of eight subjects, engraved on copper by
an unknown artist, whose mark is [monogram: AC]. 1. Death beating a drum,
precedes a lady and gentleman accompanied by a little dog. 2. Death
playing on a stickado, precedes a lady and gentleman dancing back to back,
below an hour-glass. 3. Death, with an hour-glass in his right hand, lays
his left on the shoulder of a gentleman taking hold of a lady with his
right hand, and carrying a hawk with his left. 4. Death crowned with a
garland, and holding an hour-glass in his left hand, stands between a lady
and gentleman joining hands. 5. Death, with a fool's cap and hood, a
dagger of lath, and a bladder, holds up an hour-glass with his right hand;
with his left he seizes the hand of a terrified lady accompanied by a
gentleman, who endeavours to thrust away the unwelcome companion. 6.
Another couple led by Death. 7. Death with a cap and feathers holds an
hour-glass in his right hand, and with his left seizes a lady, whom a
gentleman endeavours to draw away from him. All have the date 1562. 12mo.
Size, three inches by two. They are described also in Bartsch, Peintre
Graveur, ix. 482, and have been sometimes erroneously ascribed to
Aldegrever.
[Illustration]
IV. A Dance of Death, extremely well executed on wood, the designs of
which have been taken from a set of initial letters, that will hereafter
be particularly described. They are upright, and measure two inches by one
and a half. Each subject is accompanied with two German verses.
V. On the back of the title page to "Die kleyn furstlich Chronica,"
Strasb. 1544, 4to. are three subjects that appear to be part of a series.
1. Death and the Pope, who has a book and triple crosier. Death kneels to
him whilst he plays on a tabor and drum. 2. Death and the King. Death
blows a trumpet. 3. Death shoots an arrow at a warrior armed with sword
and battle-axe. All these figures are accompanied with German verses, and
are neatly engraved on wood.
VI. A series of single figures, etched with great spirit by Giovanni Maria
Mitelli. They are not accompanied by Death, but hold dialogues with him in
Italian stanzas. The characters are, 1. The Astrologer. 2. The Doctor of
universal science. 3. The Hunter. 4. The Mathematician. 5. The Idolater.
They are not mentioned in Bartsch, nor in any other list of the works of
engravers. It is possible that there are more of them.
VII. The five Deaths, etched by Della Bella. 1. A terrific figure of Death
on a galloping horse. In his left hand a trumpet, to which a flag,
agitated by the wind, is attached. In the back ground, several human
skeletons, variously employed. 2. Death carrying off an infant in his
arms. In the back-ground, the church-yard of the Innocents at Paris. 3.
Death walking away with a young child on his back. In the distance,
another view of the above cemetery. 4. Death carrying off a female on his
shoulders, with her head downwards, followed at a distance by another
Death holding a corpse in his arms. 5. Death dragging a reluctant old man
towards a grave, in which another Death, with an hour-glass in his hand,
awaits him. All these are extremely fine, and executed in the artist's
best time. There is a sixth of the series, representing Death throwing a
young man into a well, but it is very inferior to the others. It was begun
by Della Bella a short time before his death, and finished by his pupil
Galestruzzi, about 1664. Della Bella likewise etched a long print of the
triumph of Death.
VIII. A single anonymous French engraving on copper, 14-1/2 by 6-1/2,
containing three subjects. 1. Death and the soldier. 2. Death standing
with a pruning knife in his right hand, and a winged hour-glass in his
left. Under him are three prostrate females, one plays on a violin; the
next, who represents Pride, holds a peacock in one hand and a mirror in
the other; the third has a flower in her left hand. 3. Death and the lady.
He holds an hour-glass and dart, and she a flower in her right hand. Under
each subject are French verses. This may perhaps be one only of a set.
IX. A German Dance of Death, in eight oblong engravings on copper, 11 by
8-1/2, consisting of eight sheets and twenty-five subjects, as follow. 1.
A fantastic figure of a Death, with a cap and feathers, in the attitude of
dancing and playing on a flute. He is followed by another dancing skeleton
carrying a coffin on his shoulder. 2. Pope. 3. Emperor. 4 Empress. 5.
Cardinal. 6. King. 7. Bishop. 8. Duke or General. 9. Abbot. 10. Knight.
11. Carthusian. 12. Burgomaster. 13. Canon. 14. Nobleman. 15. Physician.
16. Usurer. 17. Chaplain. 18. Bailiff or Steward. 19. Churchwarden. 20.
Merchant. 21. Hermit. 22. Peasant. 23. Young Man. 24. Maiden. 25. Child.
This is a complete set of the prints, representing the Lubeck painting,
already described in p. 43. In the translation of the inscriptions, as
given by Dr. Nugent, two more characters are added at the end, viz. the
Dancing Master and the Fencing Master. On the spectator's left hand of No.
1. of these engravings, is a column containing the following inscription
in German, in English as follows: "Silence, fool-hardy one, whoever thou
art, who, with needless words, profanest this holy place. This is no
chapel for talking, but thy sure place is in Death's Dance. Silence then,
silence, and let the painting on these silent walls commune with thee, and
convince thee that man is and will be earth:" and on Nos. 4 and 5, the
words "Zu finden in Lubeck by Christian Gotfried Donatius."
X. The following entry is in the Stationers' books:
28 b. v{o} Januarij [1597.]
Tho. Purfoote, sen.} Entered their c. Mr. Dix and Wm. M. The
Tho. Purfoote, jun.} roll of the Daunce of Death, with pictures
} and verses upon the same VI_d_.
XI. In the catalogue of the library of R. Smith, secretary of the Poultry
Compter, which was sold by auction in 1682, is this article "Dance of
Death in the cloyster of Paul's, with figures, very old." Probably a
single sheet.
XII. "The Dance of Death;" a single sheet, engraved on copper, with the
following figures. In the middle, Death leading the king; the beggar hand
in hand with the king; Death leading the old man, followed by a child; the
fool; the wise man, as an astrologer, led by Death. On the spectator's
left hand, Death bringing a man before a judge; with the motto, "The
greatest judge that sits in honour's seat, must come to grave, where't
boots not to intreate." A man and woman in a brothel, Death behind; with
the motto, "Leave, wanton youth, thou must no longer stay; if once I call
all mortals must obey." On the opposite side, the Miser and Death; the
motto, "Come, worldling, come, gold hath no power to save, leave it thou
shalt, and dance with me to grave." Death and the Prisoner; the motto,
"Prisoner arise, ile ease thy fetterd feet, and now betake thee to thy
winding sheet." In the middle of the print sits a minstrel on a stool
formed of bones placed on a coffin with a pick-axe and spade. He plays on
a tabor and pipe; with this motto, "Sickness, despaire, sword, famine,
sudden death, all these do serve as minstrells unto Death; the beggar,
king, fool, and profound, courtier and clown all dance this round." Under
the above figures is a poem of sixty-six lines on the power of Death,
beginning thus:
Yea, Adam's brood and earthly wights which breath now on the earth,
Come dance this dance, and mark the song of this most mighty Death.
Full well my power is known and seen in all the world about,
When I do strike of force do yeeld both noble, wise, and stout, &c.
Printed cullored and sould by R. Walton at the Globe and Compasses at the
West end of St. Paules church turning down towards Ludgate.
XIII. A large anonymous German engraving on copper, in folio. In the
middle is a circular Dance of Death, with nine females, from the Empress
to the Fool. In the four corners, two persons kneeling before a crucifix;
saints in heaven; the temptation; and the infernal regions. At top, a
frame with these verses:
Vulneris en nostri certam solamque medelam
En data divina praemia larga manu.
Der Todt Christi Zunicht hat gmacht
Den Todt und Sleben wider bracht.
At bottom in a similar frame:
Per unius peccatum Mors intravit in mundum.
Den Todt und ewig hellisch pein
Hat veruhr sagt die Sund allein.
This is within a broad frame, containing a Dance of Death, in twelve
ovals. The names of the characters are in German: 1. The Pope. 2. Emperor.
3. King. 4. Cardinal. 5. Bishop. 6. Duke. 7. Earl. 8. Gentleman. 9.
Citizen. 10. Peasant. 11. Soldier and Beggar. 12. Fool and Child. Under
each subject is an appropriate inscription in Latin and German. In the
middle at top, a Death's head and bones, an hour-glass and a dial. In the
middle at bottom, a lamp burning on a Death's head, and a pot of holy
water with an aspergillum. On the sides, in the middle, funereal
implements.
XIV. Heineken, in his "Dictionnaire des Graveurs," iii. 77, mentions a
Dance of Death engraved about 1740 by Maurice Bodenehr of Friburg, but
without any further notice.
XV. Another very large print, 2 feet by 1-1/2, in mezzotinto, the subject
as in No. 10. but the figures varied, and much better drawn. At bottom,
"Joh. El. Ridinger excud. Aug. Vindel."
XVI. Newton's Dances of Death. Published July 12, 1796, by Wm. Holland,
No. 50, Oxford Street, consisting of the following grotesque subjects
engraved on copper. The size 6 inches by 5. 1. Auctioneer. 2. Lawyer. 3.
Old Maid on Death's back. 4. Gamblers. 5. Scolding Wife. 6. Apple-woman.
7. Blind Beggar. 8. Distressed Poet and Bailiff. 9. Undertaker. 10.
Sleeping Lady. 11. Old Woman and her Cats. 12. Gouty Parson feeding on a
tythe pig. 12. Same subject differently treated. 13. Sailor and
Sweetheart. 14. Physician, Gravedigger, and Death dancing a round. 15.
Market-man. 16. Doctor, sick Patient, and Nurse. 17. Watchman. 18.
Gravedigger putting a corpse into the grave. 19. Old maid reading, Death
extinguishes the candle. 20. Gravedigger making a grave. 21. Old Woman.
22. Barber. 23. Lady and Death reflected in the mirror. 24. Waiter. 25.
Amorous Old Man and Young Woman. 26. Jew Old Clothes-man. 27. Miser. 28.
Female Gin-drinker.
XVII. The Dance of Death modernised. Published July 13, 1800, and designed
by G. M. Woodward, Berners' Street, Oxford Street. Contains the following
caricatures. Size 5 by 4-1/2.
1. King. "Return the diadem and I'll follow you."
2. Cardinal. "Zounds, take care of my great toe, or I shall never rise
higher than a cardinal."
3. Bishop. "I cannot go, I am a bishop."
4. Old Man. "My good friend, I am too old, I assure you."
5. Dancing-master. "I never practised such an Allemande as this since I
have been a dancing-master."
6. Alderman. "If you detain me in this way my venison will be quite cold."
7. Methodist Preacher. "If you wo'nt take I, I'll never mention you or the
Devil in my sarmons as long as I lives."
8. Parson. "I can't leave my company till I've finish'd my pipe and
bottle."
9. Schoolmaster. "I am only a poor schoolmaster, and sets good examples in
the willage."
10. Miser. "Spare my money, and I'll go contented."
11. Politician. "Stay till I have finished the newspaper, for I am told
there is great intelligence from the continent."
12. Press-gang Sailor. "Why d-- me I'm one of your apprentices."
13. Beggar. "This is the universal dance from a king to a beggar."
14. Jockey. "I assure you I am engaged at Newmarket."
15. Undertaker. "A pretty dance this for an undertaker."
16. Gouty Man. "Buzaglo's exercise was nothing to this."
17. Poet. "I am but a poor poet, and always praised the ode to your honour
written by the late King of Prussia."
18. Physician. "Here's fine encouragement for the faculty."
19. Lawyer. "The law is always exempt by the statutes."
20. Old Maid. "Let me but stay till I am married, and I'll ask no longer
time."
21. Fine Lady. "Don't be so boisterous, you filthy wretch. I am a woman of
fashion."
22. Empress. "Fellow, I am an empress."
23. Young Lady. "Indeed, Sir, I am too young."
24. Old Bawd. "You may call me old bawd, if you please, but I am sure I
have always been a friend to your worship."
XVIII. Bonaparte's Dance of Death. Invented, drawn, and etched by Richard
Newton, 7 by 5.
1. Stabb'd at Malta. 2. Drown'd at Alexandria. 3. Strangled at Cairo. 4.
Shot by a Tripoline gentleman. 5. Devoured by wild beasts in the desert.
6. Alive in Paris.