The Empress

Holbein: Cardinal Holbein: Queen

 
Initial letter F
© The Trustees of the British Museum
 
 

Alphabet by Hollar Another picture with Death treating genteel people disrespectfully. One Death tugs at the empress' crown, while the other grabs the train of her gown.

The accompanying text for this letter goes: »Der anfang der sünd ist worden von eynem wyb / vnd wir sterben all durch sy / Der todt der sünder ist vast böss«.

The first part is Syrach 25,24: »Of the woman came the beginning of sin, and through her we all die«.

The second part looks like Psalms 34,22, which Elberfelder translates like this: »Den Gottlosen wird die Bosheit töten; [...]«. In English: »Evil shall slay the wicked: and they that hate the righteous shall be desolate«.

To the left is a copy designed by Hollar.


Holbein: Cardinal Holbein: Queen Up to Holbein's Dance of Death Alphabet