The Nobleman

Holbein: Duke Holbein: Canon

 
Initial letter K  
 
Holbein, The count
Holbein's dance of death, the count.
The Holbein dagger
The Holbein dagger: Death with hat.

Death is dragging a long flail. This is a clear allusion to the peasant rebellions in the 1520's. The flail (and the same bible quote) also appears in Holbein's dance of death (picture to the right).

Death is wearing a hat that clearly marks him as of lower station in life. It's the same hat that Death is wearing before the king (letter D), the girl (letter S) and on the Holbein dagger.

The accompanying text for this letter goes: »Wan so der mensch wurdt sterben / nimpt er nitt alle ding / noch syn glory stygt hynab mit ym«.

This is from Psalms 49,18, which in Luther's version sounds: »Denn er wird nichts bei seinem Sterben mitnehmen, und seine Herrlichkeit wird ihm nicht nachfahren«. In English: »For when he dieth he shall carry nothing away: his glory shall not descend after him«.


Holbein: Duke Holbein: Canon Up to Holbein's Dance of Death Alphabet