CHAPTER IX.

Further examination of Holbein's title. — Borbonius. — Biogra-phical notice of Holbein. — Painting of a Dance of Death atWhitehall by him.

\ T may be necessary in the next place tomake some further inquiry respectingthe connexion that Holbein is supposedto have had at any time with the subjectof the Dance of Death.

The numerous errors that have been— --------, fallen into in making Holbein a partici-

pator in any manner whatever with the old Basle MacaberDance, have been already noticed, and are indeed notworth the trouble of refuting. It is wholly improbable thathe would interfere with so rude a piece of art; nor has hisname been recorded among the artists who are known tohave retouched or repaired it. The Macaber Dance atBasle, or anywhere else, is, therefore, with respect toHolbein, to be altogether laid aside; and if the argumentbefore deduced from the important dedication to theedition of the justly celebrated wood-cuts published atLyons in 1538 be of any value, his claim to their invention,at least to those in the first edition, must also be rejected. 11 On the same dedication are founded the opinions of ZamyDe^Murr,^teintel, and some others.