The Count

Count
Holbein Proofs, Count
Holbein's dance of death alphabet.
Holbein's dance of death alphabet, Initial K

T he count prays for his life to be spared, while Death is about to crush him with his own shield. Death is dressed as a peasant and steps on a flail. All this are allusions to the peasants' rebellion in Germany, Austria and Switzerland 1524-1526 (the very years when Holbein and Lützelburger designed the woodcuts).

The flail also appears in the Dance of Death Alphabet (picture to the right), where Death uses the flail to trip the Nobleman.

Variations: Birckmann replaces the sprouting stalks with a tree. The count's helmet (lying on the ground) is turned over. Valvasor, Hollar and Deuchar copy Birckmann.

Various Artists

Holbein Proofs (1526)
Holbein Proofs 1526: Count
Holbein (1538)
Holbein 1538: Count
Vogtherr (1544)
Vogtherr 1544: Count
Valgrisi (1545)
Valgrisi 1545: Count
Birckmann (1555)
Birckmann 1555: Count
Scharffenberg (1576)
Scharffenberg 1576: Count
Straub (1581)
Straub 1581: Count
Chytraeus (1590)
Chytraeus 1590: Count
Glissenti (1596)
Glissenti 1596: Count
Donaueschingen (1600)
Donaueschingen 1600: Count
Kieser (1617)
Kieser 1617: Count
Hollar (1651)
Hollar 1651: Count
Thomas Neale (1657)
Thomas Neale 1657: Count
Valvasor (1682)
Valvasor 1682: Count
Mechel (1780)
Mechel 1780: Count
Deuchar (1788)
Deuchar 1788: Count
Bewick (1789)
Bewick 1789: Count
Anderson (1810)
Anderson 1810: Count
Hollar (colour) (1816)
Hollar (colour) 1816: Count
Bechstein (1831)
Bechstein 1831: Count
Schlotthauer (1832)
Schlotthauer 1832: Count
Douce (1833)
Douce 1833: Count
Curmer (1858)
Curmer 1858: Count
Wildridge (1887)
Wildridge 1887: Count
Deuchar (1887)
Deuchar 1887: Count

Holbein Dances of death Holbein's dance of death Count