Hans Holbein, The Dance of Death 1947, 1st Phaidon Ed

"The Dance of Death", by Hans Holbein, with an Introduction and Notes by James M. Clark, published by Phaidon Press in 1947.

The plates numbered I to XLIX (1-49), together with the first four groups of putti, or boys (Nos. LII to LV / 52-55), are reproduced in their original size from the best Lyons editions, namely those of 1538 and 1549 (Paris, Bibliotheque nationale, Reserve PZ.620 and 80,090); the remaining plates are from the 1562 edition in the British Museum.

Contents:

Preface
Introduction
Plates
Additional Plates
Notes
Bibliography
List Of Reproductions [58 plates in original size and 8 enlarged reproductions]

Holbein's "Dance of Death" came to define the genre - so in a way Holbein meant the end of "the real" dances of death. So Holbein altered the Dance of Death into a sequence of everyday scenes where Death is about to catch the humans - who are often at the peak of their careers.

It depicts the bitterness of the Peasants' War and 'Death' as the harvester of men and the final proof of their equality. Holbein was not the first artist to produce an illustrated book but his work is representative of some of the finest of the period. Aside from its value as pure entertainment Holbein's work is responsible for our understanding of the physical characteristics of Henrician era.

With the development of his art the Dance of Death naturally became a popular theme for the engraver. Many such prints were produced by various German artists, but the most famous version is that of the younger Holbein, issued in 1538 by the brothers Trechsel at Lyons. It appears to be clear from the researches of Wornum and Woltmann, of Paul Mantz, of W.J. Linton, the Rev. G. Davies, C. Dodgson, and others, that the drawings were undoubtedly the work of Hans Holbein the younger, who was resident in Basle up to the autumn of 1526, before which time the drawings must have been produced. They were distinctly in his manner and of extraordinarily high merit.

US: Priority (c.2-4 days) ------------ $14.50
Canada: Priority (c.2-6 weeks) ---- $27.50
World: Priority (c.2-8 weeks) ----- $37.50
Condition Report: Original dust jacket with corner clipped front flap; hard boards, beige cloth with brown and red lettering; 5” x 6.1/4”; 127 pages printed on cream-color genuine laid paper; very good near fine condition.