HOLBEIN (Younger), Hans
 
The Nobleman; woodcut of Holbein’s, The Dance of Death (1523-1525); plated by Cheswick Press in 1898.
 
Description
 
A very good impression 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.
Holbein's series of woodcuts shows the figure of "Death" in many disguises, confronting individuals from all walks of life. None escape Death's skeleton clutches, even the pious.
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.