HOLBEIN (Younger), Hans
 
The Pope/The Emperor pair; woodcuts of Holbein’s, The Dance of Death (1523-1525); plated by Cheswick Press in 1898.
 
Description
 
Both very good impressions to laid paper, in near fine condition. Very slight age toning of the paper otherwise excellent. From a rare 1898 edition of the work.
This 1898 series issues were impressions from the blocks engraved in 1833 for Douce's Holbein's Dance of Death. They were at the time the best impressions in wood and the closest by method to the original and incomparable woodcuts of Hans Lutzelburger.
The Pope (Leo X.) with Death at his side, crowns an Emperor, who kisses his foot.
Another Death, in a cardinal's hat, is among the assistants. In the second, the Emperor (Maximilian I.) rates his minister for injustice to a suitor. But even in the act, Death discrowns him.
Holbein learned his craft in his father's workshop in Augsburg, a city with a thriving book trade, where woodcut and engraving flourished. Augsburg also acted as one of the chief "ports of entry" into Germany for the ideas of the Italian Renaissance
Image, 9.6x6.2cm; external, 30.2x25.9cm (for each)