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 robust 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, Three children with staff, arrow and bow
Three children with staff, arrow and bow
Holbein, Child with shield and arrow
Child with shield and arrow
Holbein, Three children, one of them sitting, with trophy
Three children, one of them sitting, with trophy
Holbein, Four children carrying a fifth
Four children carrying a fifth

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


Birckmann 1555: Child with shield and arrow
Birckmann (1555)
Birckmann 1555: Three children with staff, arrow and bow
Birckmann (1555)
Birckmann 1555: Three children, one of them sitting, with trophy
Birckmann (1555)
Birckmann 1555: Four children carrying a fifth
Birckmann (1555)

Eberhard Kieser imaginibus: Child with shield and arrow
Eberhard Kieser (1617)
Eberhard Kieser imaginibus: Three children with staff, arrow and bow
Eberhard Kieser (1617)
Eberhard Kieser imaginibus: Three children, one of them sitting, with trophy
Eberhard Kieser (1617)
Eberhard Kieser imaginibus: Four children carrying a fifth
Eberhard Kieser (1617)
Eberhard Kieser imaginibus:  Children with horns, pipes and drum
Eberhard Kieser (1617)
Eberhard Kieser imaginibus:  Child as emperor in triumphal cortege
Eberhard Kieser (1617)

Groom Up to Holbein's great dance of death