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The dances of death, through the various stages of human life : wherein the capriciousness of that tyrant is exhibited in forty-six copper plates; done from the original designs ... ; to which are prefixed, descriptions of each plate in French and English, with the scripture text from which the designs were taken
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EXPLANATIONS

THE SUBJECTS

THE TRIUMPH OF DEATH,

BY HANS HOLBEIN.

PLATE I.— FRONTISPIECE.

A^r the side of a stone table, placed ] vertically, Holbein ap-pears behind a curtain, which Death opens to him, to placebefore bis ejes the great Spectacle of the Scenes of human Lifethat he is going to sketch. This is also expressed by an heap ofthe attributesof grandeur, dignities, riches, arts, and sciences,mixed with deatli-heads, which Death is trampling under bisfeet. Below is an epitaph from Lucan— Mors sceptra ligonibus<equat. Death eonfounds the sceptre with the spade. This tableis topped with a medallion, with the portrait of Holbein. TwoGenii support this medallion ; the one surrounded with a garlandof flowers, the other lets flja butterfly, whilst a third isamus-ing himself with making soap bubbles. What these allegoriesmean is easily understood.

 
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