Catalog Archive
Auction 125, Lot 884

"[Lot of 2 - Dance of Death] Plate 21 Me & te Sola Mors Seoarabit, Ruth 2 [and] Plate 22 Duc unt in Boms Dies suos & in Puncto ad Inferna Descendut, Job 2", Hollar, Wenceslaus

Subject: Miscellaneous Prints

Period: 1816 (published)

Publication: The Dance of Death

Color: Hand Color

Size:
2 x 2.5 inches
5.1 x 6.4 cm
Download High Resolution Image
(or just click on image to launch the Zoom viewer)

Pair of 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. These are from an edition published by J. Coxhead. 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. These engravings feature newlyweds and a young countess dressing for a party.

References:

Condition: A+

Estimate: $150 - $200

Sold for: $110

Closed on 9/24/2008

Archived