Hans Holbein (1497-1543) is one of the greatest painters of all time and probably - with Dürer - the greatest designer of woodengravings who ever lived. His paintings include the famous series of portraits of the court of king Henry VIII, rendered with incredible detail and realism. His so-called lack of psychology may also be due to the atmosphere at that court with its secret dealings and fear for an insane king. He designed many illustrations for books, the Dances of Death being the most popular. These were cut about 1525 but only published in 1538.

The Dance of death was a popular theme in an age and society that were torn by strife and plague. Holbeins illustrations were published many times. The detailed and beautiful designed little vignettes give an insight in the lives of the people he depicted - see for example the picture where Death enters the house of a poor farmer and takes the child to the dismay of its parents. But you may also notice stock characters like the nun turning at the altar to look for her lover. The designs of the German painter beautifully fit in with the typical renaissance typography of the Lyonese printers.

This copy was bound in a nice 19th century french binding. The lines on the pages have been done at that time: a pseudo-medieval retrolook.

The book is presented in three parts:

Les Simulacres & Historiees Faces de la Mort  01 - 28

Les Simulacres & Historiees Faces de la Mort  29 - 56

Les Simulacres & Historiees Faces de la Mort  57 - 98

All the above links start at Les Simulacres & Historiees Faces de la Mort 1 - 28. From there you can choose your destination via the menu in the upper left corner.