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The original painting, like most others, was done by Jakob Samuel Beck. In this case it's the grocer Gottfried Kluge from Breslau, who has sat for him, and who has sponsored the picture.
The merchant sits behind his desk. In the background of Kruspe's drawing (right) you can see two of his employees working inside an open warehouse. Death shows up and hands him a wax plate: "You need this wax", probably as wax candles at his funeral.
Scröer (who quotes Schellenberg, who quotes Pohle,) calls Death's garments "a Polish Jewish costume". This fits nicely with the merchant stating that he has bought wax from the Jews. In Götz' watercolour (above) the hat is very different.
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Der Tod zum Wachshändler: |
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Der Wachshändler: |
Dances of death
Erfurt
Wax trader