Macabre Dance Collection

The Laughter, Satirical in Colours, 1901_5_18: The macabre dance of the English millions swallowed up in South Africa
ICA4840890 The Laughter, Satirical in Colours, 1901_5_18: The macabre dance of the English millions swallowed up in South Africa - England Great Britain - Reaper/Camarde; (add.info.: The Laughter)

P: a soldier (Praeliator) - The Alphabet of Death, c.1856 (engraving)
DUV4221994 P: a soldier (Praeliator) - The Alphabet of Death, c.1856 (engraving); 8x23 cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: Drawing by H. Loedel after Hans Holbein (1497? -1543)); Photo © Duvallon

W: The Old Hermit (Vetustissimus homo) - The Alphabet of Death, c.1856 (engraving)
DUV4221965 W: The Old Hermit (Vetustissimus homo) - The Alphabet of Death, c.1856 (engraving); 8x23 cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: Drawing by H)

Y: a child in the cradle (Ynfans or Infans) - The Alphabet of Death, c.1856 (engraving)
DUV4221955 Y: a child in the cradle (Ynfans or Infans) - The Alphabet of Death, c.1856 (engraving); 8x23 cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: Drawing by H)

E: The Cardinal - The Alphabet of Death, c.1856 (engraving)
DUV4222044 E: The Cardinal - The Alphabet of Death, c.1856 (engraving); 8x23 cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: Drawing by H. Loedel after Hans Holbein (1497? -1543)); Photo © Duvallon

G: The Queen - The Alphabet of Death, c.1856 (engraving)
DUV4222036 G: The Queen - The Alphabet of Death, c.1856 (engraving); 8x23 cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: Drawing by H. Loedel after Hans Holbein (1497? -1543)); Photo © Duvallon

H: The Eveque - The Alphabet of Death, c.1856 (engraving)
DUV4222028 H: The Eveque - The Alphabet of Death, c.1856 (engraving); 8x23 cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: Drawing by H. Loedel after Hans Holbein (1497? -1543)); Photo © Duvallon

A: the fool (Ridens or Ridulus, fatuus) - The Alphabet of Death, c.1856 (engraving)
DUV4221987 A: the fool (Ridens or Ridulus, fatuus) - The Alphabet of Death, c.1856 (engraving); 8x23 cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: Drawing by H)

K: The Merchant - The Alphabet of Death, c.1856 (engraving)
DUV4222022 K: The Merchant - The Alphabet of Death, c.1856 (engraving); 8x23 cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: Drawing by H. Loedel after Hans Holbein (1497? -1543)); Photo © Duvallon

B: The Pope - The Alphabet of Death, c.1856 (engraving)
DUV4222062 B: The Pope - The Alphabet of Death, c.1856 (engraving); 8x23 cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: Drawing by H. Loedel after Hans Holbein (1497? -1543)); Photo © Duvallon

F: The Impress - The Alphabet of Death, c.1856 (engraving)
DUV4222039 F: The Impress - The Alphabet of Death, c.1856 (engraving); 8x23 cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: Drawing by H. Loedel after Hans Holbein (1497? -1543)); Photo © Duvallon

L: the priest - The Alphabet of Death, c.1856 (engraving)
DUV4222014 L: the priest - The Alphabet of Death, c.1856 (engraving); 8x23 cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: Drawing by H. Loedel after Hans Holbein (1497? -1543)); Photo © Duvallon

O: a fat monk (Obesus monachus) - The Alphabet of Death, c.1856 (engraving)
DUV4222016 O: a fat monk (Obesus monachus) - The Alphabet of Death, c.1856 (engraving); 8x23 cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: Drawing by H)

X: Two players who cheat themselves (Xycophantes or Sycophantes) - The Alphabet of Death, c.1856 (engraving)
DUV4221963 X: Two players who cheat themselves (Xycophantes or Sycophantes) - The Alphabet of Death, c.1856 (engraving); 8x23 cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: Drawing by H)

Design for a dagger sheath designed by Holbein. The characters are a young woman
FLO4675844 Design for a dagger sheath designed by Holbein. The characters are a young woman, a monk and a child who involuntarily accompany Death in the dance

C: The Emperor - The Alphabet of Death, c.1856 (engraving)
DUV4222059 C: The Emperor - The Alphabet of Death, c.1856 (engraving); 8x23 cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: Drawing by H. Loedel after Hans Holbein (1497? -1543)); Photo © Duvallon

D: The King - The Alphabet of Death, c.1856 (engraving)
DUV4222049 D: The King - The Alphabet of Death, c.1856 (engraving); 8x23 cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: Drawing by H. Loedel after Hans Holbein (1497? -1543)); Photo © Duvallon

M: the doctor (Medicus) - The Alphabet of Death, c.1856 (engraving)
DUV4222013 M: the doctor (Medicus) - The Alphabet of Death, c.1856 (engraving); 8x23 cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: Drawing by H. Loedel after Hans Holbein (1497? -1543)); Photo © Duvallon

N: the money changer or the banker (Numerarius) - TThe Alphabet of Death, c.1856 (engraving)
DUV4222005 N: the money changer or the banker (Numerarius) - TThe Alphabet of Death, c.1856 (engraving); 8x23 cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: Drawing by H)

Q: a nun (Quieta, Quassata or Quaeritans Monacha) - The Alphabet of Death, c.1856 (engraving)
DUV4221999 Q: a nun (Quieta, Quassata or Quaeritans Monacha) - The Alphabet of Death, c.1856 (engraving); 8x23 cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: Drawing by H)

T: a travelling musician (Homo Titubans) - The Alphabet of Death, c.1856 (engraving)
DUV4221975 T: a travelling musician (Homo Titubans) - The Alphabet of Death, c.1856 (engraving); 8x23 cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: Drawing by H)

V: a rider who thinks he is fleeing death and who carries it in hips (Velox eques) - The Alphabet of Death
DUV4221970 V: a rider who thinks he is fleeing death and who carries it in hips (Velox eques) - The Alphabet of Death, c.1856 (engraving); 8x23 cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: Drawing by H)

Death, represented by a skeleton, leading a cripple by the hand. Medievale engraving, color enhancement 19th century
NWI4959143 Death, represented by a skeleton, leading a cripple by the hand. Medievale engraving, color enhancement 19th century.; (add.info.: Death, represented by a skeleton)

S: The woman mad of her body (Scortum) - The Alphabet of Death, c.1856 (engraving)
DUV4221981 S: The woman mad of her body (Scortum) - The Alphabet of Death, c.1856 (engraving); 8x23 cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: Drawing by H)

I: The Noble - The Alphabet of Death, c.1856 (engraving)
DUV4222031 I: The Noble - The Alphabet of Death, c.1856 (engraving); 8x23 cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: Drawing by H. Loedel after Hans Holbein (1497? -1543)); Photo © Duvallon

Z: The Last Judgment: The End of All Things - The Alphabet of Death, c.1856 (engraving)
DUV4221953 Z: The Last Judgment: The End of All Things - The Alphabet of Death, c.1856 (engraving); 8x23 cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: Drawing by H)

A: the deathly musicians who announce the Dance of Death - The Alphabet of Death, c.1856 (engraving)
DUV4222065 A: the deathly musicians who announce the Dance of Death - The Alphabet of Death, c.1856 (engraving); 8x23 cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: Drawing by H)

Death and the Miser, from the Dance of Death by Hans Holbein the Younger
7277878 Death and the Miser, from the Dance of Death by Hans Holbein the Younger by Holbein the Younger, Hans (1497/8-1543) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: Death and the Miser)

Death and the Nun, from the Dance of Death by Hans Holbein the Younger
7277879 Death and the Nun, from the Dance of Death by Hans Holbein the Younger by Holbein the Younger, Hans (1497/8-1543) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: Death and the Nun)

The skeleton of Death stabs a fat cook to death with a skewer holding a roast chicken
FLO4690341 The skeleton of Death stabs a fat cook to death with a skewer holding a roast chicken. Handcoloured copperplate drawn and engraved by Thomas Rowlandson from The English Dance of Death

The skeleton of Death pushes a ladder away from a wall killing a gallant suitor as he tries to elope with a beauty
FLO4690408 The skeleton of Death pushes a ladder away from a wall killing a gallant suitor as he tries to elope with a beauty. The girls father shoots a musket at the falling man

The skeleton of Death in cloak and cap drives a two-horse carriage as it crashes into roadworks killing his passenger
FLO4690386 The skeleton of Death in cloak and cap drives a two-horse carriage as it crashes into roadworks killing his passenger, a court officer

The mock death of Hans Holbein the Young (1497-1543): the soldier. A soldier fights Death; at their feet lie the bodies
XEE4168200 The mock death of Hans Holbein the Young (1497-1543): the soldier. A soldier fights Death; at their feet lie the bodies of other warriors. Engraving

The skeleton of Death watches antiquarians exhume a kings corpse from a crypt in a church
FLO4690441 The skeleton of Death watches antiquarians exhume a kings corpse from a crypt in a church. Handcoloured copperplate drawn and engraved by Thomas Rowlandson from The English Dance of Death

The skeleton of Death comes for a sick man while three quack doctors fight
FLO4690437 The skeleton of Death comes for a sick man while three quack doctors fight, and a maid attacks them with bedpans in the Chamber War

The skeleton of Death attacking a beggar. 1792. 1926 (engraving)
7234871 The skeleton of Death attacking a beggar. 1792. 1926 (engraving) by Chodowiecki, Daniel Nikolaus (1726-1801); Private Collection; (add.info.: The skeleton of Death attacking a beggar)

Two skeletons of Death attack a king in his throne room. 1792. 1926 (engraving)
7234876 Two skeletons of Death attack a king in his throne room. 1792. 1926 (engraving) by Chodowiecki, Daniel Nikolaus (1726-1801); Private Collection; (add.info)

The skeleton of Death stabs the Pope on his throne. 1792. 1926 (engraving)
7234877 The skeleton of Death stabs the Pope on his throne. 1792. 1926 (engraving) by Chodowiecki, Daniel Nikolaus (1726-1801); Private Collection; (add.info)

The skeleton of Death comes for a quack doctor. 1792. 1926 (engraving)
7234875 The skeleton of Death comes for a quack doctor. 1792. 1926 (engraving) by Chodowiecki, Daniel Nikolaus (1726-1801); Private Collection; (add.info)

The skeleton of Death in a duel with a noble gentleman. 1792. 1926 (engraving)
7234872 The skeleton of Death in a duel with a noble gentleman. 1792. 1926 (engraving) by Chodowiecki, Daniel Nikolaus (1726-1801); Private Collection; (add.info)

The skeleton of Death pulls on the arm of a mother in a nursery, 1792. 1926 (engraving)
7234866 The skeleton of Death pulls on the arm of a mother in a nursery, 1792. 1926 (engraving) by Chodowiecki, Daniel Nikolaus (1726-1801); Private Collection; (add.info)

Death standing on a sarcophagus where the dead Pope and the Emperor lie, detail from the Triumph of Death
2655029 Death standing on a sarcophagus where the dead Pope and the Emperor lie, detail from the Triumph of Death and Dance of Death, 1485 (fresco) by Borlone de Buschis

Thr Order of Disciplini, detail, 1485 (fresco)
2655024 Thr Order of Disciplini, detail, 1485 (fresco) by Borlone de Buschis, Giacomo (fl.1462-1485); Oratorio dei Disciplini, Clusone, Bergamo, Italy; (add.info.: Clusone)

Triumph of Death and Dance of Death, 1485 (fresco)
2655013 Triumph of Death and Dance of Death, 1485 (fresco) by Borlone de Buschis, Giacomo (fl.1462-1485); Oratorio dei Disciplini, Clusone, Bergamo, Italy; (add.info.: Clusone)

The winged skeleton of Death flies off with a baby. 1792. 1926 (engraving)
7234873 The winged skeleton of Death flies off with a baby. 1792. 1926 (engraving) by Chodowiecki, Daniel Nikolaus (1726-1801); Private Collection; (add.info)

The skeleton of Death slashes a fishwife with a scythe. 1792. 1926 (engraving)
7234870 The skeleton of Death slashes a fishwife with a scythe. 1792. 1926 (engraving) by Chodowiecki, Daniel Nikolaus (1726-1801); Private Collection; (add.info)

Two skeletons of Death come for a queen on her throne. 1792. 1926 (engraving)
7234869 Two skeletons of Death come for a queen on her throne. 1792. 1926 (engraving) by Chodowiecki, Daniel Nikolaus (1726-1801); Private Collection; (add.info)

Avarice and Pride, detail, 1485 (fresco)
2655027 Avarice and Pride, detail, 1485 (fresco) by Borlone de Buschis, Giacomo (fl.1462-1485); Oratorio dei Disciplini, Clusone, Bergamo, Italy; (add.info.: Clusone, Oratory of Disciplini or St)

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"Macabre Dance: A Haunting Symphony of Life and Death" Step into the eerie realm where death takes center stage, as depicted in various artworks throughout history. From Funeral March, 1894, an oil on canvas that captures the somber melody of a procession bidding farewell to a departed soul, to Hans Holbein the Younger's chilling Dance of Death series. In Death and the Miser, witness the skeletal figure tauntingly reminding us that wealth cannot save us from our ultimate fate. Similarly, Death and the Nun portrays mortality's relentless pursuit even within sacred walls. These haunting images by Holbein serve as a stark reminder of life's transience. Thomas Rowlandson's engravings from The English Dance of Death further amplify this macabre dance. In one scene, Death launches cannon fire at an English cavalry charge while in another he stabs a fat cook with a skewer holding a roast chicken – illustrating how no one is exempt from his grasp. The skeleton of Death whips a prostitute with cat-o-nine-tails in yet another engraving; here we see how societal vices are not spared either. Meanwhile, love meets its tragic end when Death pushes away a ladder causing suitor’s demise at his elopement attempt. Rowlandson continues to depict death's omnipresence through dark humor - driving a carriage into roadworks resulting in fatal consequences for his passenger or watching antiquarians exhume kings' corpses from crypts. Even during times of illness or deception (as seen in The Chamber War), death lurks nearby ready to claim its victims. This macabre dance culminates with an engraving portraying The Skeleton of Death attacking a beggar - symbolizing how indiscriminate fate can be towards all walks of life. These captivating artworks remind us that beneath life’s façade lies an inevitable truth: death awaits each one of us.