The Dance of Death (Dover Fine Art, History of Art) [Paperback]

Hans Holbein (Author)

Book Description

Series: Dover Fine Art, History of Art | Publication Date: June 1, 1971

The most celebrated work of a 16th-century woodcut master, these 41 illustrations are a stark reminder of a dramatic motif: "Remember, you will die." A meticulous reprint of the unabridged 1538 edition, this book includes a prefatory letter by Jean de Vauzèle plus various quotations, depictions, and meditations on death.

Editorial Reviews

Language Notes

Text: English, French, Latin

Product Details

• Paperback: 146 pages
• Publisher: Dover Publications (June 1, 1971)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0486228045
• ISBN-13: 978-0486228044
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,172,532 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #47 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Literature & Fiction > Poetry > Single Authors > Continental European
  • #83 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Arts & Photography > Graphic Design > Commercial > General

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars excellent presentation of Holbein's Danse Macabre works, September 22, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Dance of Death (Dover Fine Art, History of Art) (Paperback)

The woodcuts are beautifully reproduced. Included are the verses that originally accompanied each woodcut. The text is provided both in the original Latin and in modern translation. The Danse Macabre was originally a visual artistic presentation, and this book is faithful to that performance. The explanatory text before the woodcuts begin is short and to the point. Dover allows the art to speak for itself, rather than 'interpreting' it for the viewer.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars affordable presentation of hard-to-find wood carvings, October 6, 2002

By 

PARTHO ROY "bibliophile" (Tampa, Florida USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Dance of Death (Dover Fine Art, History of Art) (Paperback)

Again, the thrifty publisher Dover supplies us with an affordable classic, this time in the art of woodcuts. Hans Holbein's macabre and morbid series, "The Dance of Death," gives us a chilling view into Europe during the time when its denizens, well, weren't really expected to make it too far into life.

This Dover edition, though not as thorough as the complete 1538 French series (now out of print), provides a faithful reproduction of Holbein's masterpiece, with the original textual accompaniment in Latin (with English). In these marvelous woodcuts, the viewer can easily sense the feeling of dread within the European community during a time that death came all too easily.

Of course, death is a theme from which we can never truly escape, so I suppose Holbein's art speaks to all the ages. Until we ourselves come to meet the Eternal Footman, we have Holbein's "Dance of Death" to give us a glimpse into what we may expect.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Tiny images suitible for postage stamps, January 9, 2007

By 

M. Dalton "big-dummy" (New Orleans, Louisiana United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Dance Of Death (Paperback)

Holbeins illustrations are brilliant and fascinating. This book is very inexpensive. These two factors should make it a great addition to any library. But the images are something like 2 inches square. You can't see any detail really. I was disappointed and I guess I'll have to find another book as I would like to enjoy this macabre and fascinating series.