Title page from Mechel's "Triumph of Death" 1860
The title reads "Le Triomphe de la Mort, grave d'apres les Dessins originaux de Jean Holbein, graveurt Chrt. de Mechel." The title appears to be engraved on a gravestone, with a portrait of Holbein at top flanked by two cherubs, and a figure of Death at left pointing to a terrified man (Holbein) hiding behind a curtain at right. With a spear in his right hand, "Death exhibits to him the grand spectacle of the scenes of human life he is intended to paint. This is further designated by a heap of the attributes of greatness, dignities, wealth, arts and sciences, intermixed with Death's heads, all of which are trampled underfoot by Death himself." 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: 2814px × 4210px
Photo credit: © Florilegius / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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