The Dance of Death.
121
Frenchman of the time of Louis XIV.; but many of thesubjects are very superior to others, and entitled to muchcommendation.
XIII. The last in this list is " Der Todtentanz, einGedicht von Ludwig Bechstein mit 48 Kupfern in treuenConturen nach H. Holbein. Leipzig. 1831." i2mo. ; or," Death's Dance, a poem by Ludwig Bechstein, with forty-eight engravings in faithful outlines from H. Holbein."These very elegant etchings are by Frenzel, inspector ofthe gallery of engravings of the King of Saxony at Dresden.The poem, which is an epic one, relates entirely to thepower of Death over mankind.
It is necessary to mention that the artist who madethe designs for the Lyons Dance of Death is not altogetheroriginal with respect to a few of them. Thus, in the sub-ject of Adam digging and Eve spinning, he has partlycopied an ancient wood engraving that occurs in some ofthe Horse printed by Francis Regnault at Paris. In thesubject of the Queen, and on that of the Duke andDuchess, he has made some use of those of Death and theFool, and Death and the Hermit, in the old Dance atBasle. On the other hand, he has been imitated, 1. in "LaPeriere Theatre des bons engins. 1561," 24mo. where therich man bribing the judge is introduced at fo. 66. 2. Thefigure of the Swiss gentleman in " Recueil de la diversitedes habits," Paris, 1567, 121210. is copied from the lastprint in the Lyons book. 3. From the same print theDeath's head has been introduced in an old wood engraving,that will be more particularly described hereafter. 4. Bre-biette, in a small etching on copper, has copied the LyonsPloughman. 5. Mr. Dance, in his painting of Garrick, hasevidently made use of the gentleman who lifts up his swordagainst Death. The copies of the portrait of Francis Lhave been already noticed.
Other imitations of the Lyons cuts are, 1. A wood en-graving of Adam digging and Eve spinning, by Corn. VanSichem in the " Bibel's tresor," Amst. 1646, 4to. 2. TheAstrologer, a small circular print on copper by Le Blond.3. The Bridegroom, an anonymous modern engraving onwood. 4. The Miser, a small modern and anonymousprint on copper.