hman,Death,

hand.

graveenger,

ing ator themmonbrm aeach

>r law-^onrad

list ofq thanrerman:h onesensing

hands,contain

/gjfc

£*W K\MwK^/™^/''' VSe^&

^pff

■ QfM^% y ^£$F

^S^%W^^^^

^^^^ra

CHAPTER VI.

ZT^;/5 Holbein s connexion with the Dance of Death. — A danceof peasants at Basle. — Lyons edition of the Dance of Deaths1538.— Doubts as to any prior edition. — Dedication to theedition of 1538.— Mr. Ottlefs opinion of it examined. —Artists supposed to have been connected with this work. —Holbein's name in none of the old editions. — Reperdius*

HE name of Holbein has been sostrongly interwoven with the Danceof Death, that the latter is seldommentioned without bringing to recol-lection that extraordinary artist.

It would be a great waste of timeand words to dwell specifically on thenumerous errors of such writers as

,''V ; \

lfi#"

ir#S v

Papillon, Fournier, and several others, who have inad-vertently connected Holbein with the Macaber Dance, orto correct those of travellers who have spoken of thesubject as it appeared in any shape in the city of Basle.The opinions of those who have either supposed or statedthat Holbein even retouched or repaired the old paintingat Basle, are entitled to no credit whatever, unaccompaniedas they are by necessary proofs. The names of the artistswho were employed on that painting have been alreadyadverted to, and are sufficiently detailed in the volumes ofMerian and Peignot; and it is therefore unnecessary torepeat them.