LIFE OF HOLBEIN.

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writers on this subject: because, althoughhabit and practice might enable him tohandle the pencil familiarly with his left hand,yet, as it is so unusual, it must have had butan unseemly and awkward appearance in apicture ; which probably might have been hisreal inducement for representing himself with-out such a particularity. Besides, the writerof Holbein's life, at the end of the treatiseby De Piles, mentions a print by Hollar,still extant, which describes Holbein draw-ing with his left hand. Nor is it so extra-ordinary or incredible a circumstance; forother artists are remarked for the verysame habit; particularly Mozzo of Antwerp,who worked with the left; and Amico As-pertino, as well as Ludovico Cangiagio, whoworked equally well with both hands. Thisgreat artist died of the plague at Londonin 1554; some think at his lodgings inWhitehall, where he had lived from the timethat the king became his patron, but Ver-tue rather thought at the Duke of Nor-