Children

Valvasor, Theatrum Mortis Humanæ
Theatrum mortis (1682)

Groom

I n the editions from 1547 and 1562, the dance was extended with 10 new "dancers". Along with these, were added 7 pictures of little chubby boys. The woodcutter is assumed to be Veit Specklin.

The handcraft is impeccable, but the boys don't really have anything to do with the dance of death. Maybe the corn-fed children are meant to stand out in contrast to Death? Or maybe the publisher had simply obtained 7 pictures with which he could pad the volume?

In Theatrum Mortis Humanæ (to the right) the artist has combined the children with the dance of death motif.

For sake of completeness, all 7 boys are shown here:

From 1547

Holbein 1538: Child
Holbein (1538)
Holbein 1538: Children
Holbein (1538)
Holbein 1538: Children
Holbein (1538)
Holbein 1538: Children
Holbein (1538)
Birckmann 1555: Child
Birckmann (1555)
Birckmann 1555: Children
Birckmann (1555)
Birckmann 1555: Children
Birckmann (1555)
Birckmann 1555: Children
Birckmann (1555)
Kieser 1617: Child
Kieser (1617)
Kieser 1617: Children
Kieser (1617)
Kieser 1617: Children
Kieser (1617)
Kieser 1617: Children
Kieser (1617)
Kieser 1617: Children
Kieser (1617)
Kieser 1617: Children
Kieser (1617)
Valvasor 1682: Child
Valvasor (1682)
Valvasor 1682: Children
Valvasor (1682)
Valvasor 1682: Children
Valvasor (1682)
Valvasor 1682: Children
Valvasor (1682)
Schlotthauer 1832: Child
Schlotthauer (1832)
Schlotthauer 1832: Children
Schlotthauer (1832)
Schlotthauer 1832: Children
Schlotthauer (1832)
Schlotthauer 1832: Children
Schlotthauer (1832)

From 1562

Holbein, Child as emperor on horseback
Child as emperor on horseback
Holbein, Children with horns, pipes and drum
Children with horns pipes and drum
Holbein, Child as emperor in triumphal cortege
Child as emperor in triumphal cortege


Various Artists

Holbein 1538: Child
Holbein (1538)
Holbein 1538: Children
Holbein (1538)
Holbein 1538: Children
Holbein (1538)
Holbein 1538: Children
Holbein (1538)

Groom Up to Holbein's great dance of death