Scabbard by Holbein from Mechel's "Triumph of Death" 1862
A design for a sheath of a dagger drawn by Holbein. The figures are a king, queen, warrior (plate 47), young woman, monk and child (plate 48), all of whom most unwillingly accompany Death in the dance. The despair of the king, the dejection of the queen accompanied by her little dog, the terror of the soldier who hears the drum of Death, the struggling of the female, the reluctance of the monk, and the sorrow of the poor infant, are depicted with equal veracity and spirit. According to Francis Douce, "It is impossible to exceed the beauty and skill that are manifested in this fine piece of work." Handcoloured engraving from Chretien Mechel's "La Triomphe de la Mort" (The Triumph of Death) published in 1860 in Stuttgart. It is believed that Mechel's engravings were not after Holbein, but after sketches by a young Peter Paul Rubens (1577~1640).
Size: 4216px × 2798px
Photo credit: © Florilegius / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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