Lübeck's Dance of Death

Table of Contents

Lübeck
- The text from 1463 (illustrated with photos of the painting)
  - The preacher, Death to all, The pope, The emperor, The empress, The cardinal, The king, The bishop, The duke, The abbot, The knight, The Carthusian, The nobleman, The canon, The mayor, The physician, The usurer, The curate, The merchant, The parish clerk, The craftsman, The hermit, The peasant, The young man, The young woman, The child
  - Jacob von Melle is our only source for the old text. Is he reliable?
  - Wilhelm Mantels and the infamous wood table theory
    - Der Todtentanz in der Marienkirche zu Lübeck, 1866, Page 3, Page 4, Page 5, Page 6, Page 7, Page 8, Page 9, Page 10, Page 11, Page 12, Page 13, Page 14
  - Bernt Notke who painted the dance of death in 1463 (maybe)
    - Did Bernt Notke paint the dances of death in Lübeck and Tallinn?
    - St. George and the Dragon in Stockholm's cathedral (attributed to Notke)
      - Is St. George and the dragon an allegory over the battle of Brunkeberg?
      - Has Bernt Notke created St. George and the dragon?
    - The Mass of St. Gregory in Marienkirche in Lübeck (attributed to Notke)
    - The Trinity altarpiece in Lübeck (attributed to Notke)
    - The Triumphal Cross in Lübeck's Cathedral (attributed to Notke)
- The new text from 1701 (illustrated with the engravings of Ludewig Suhl
  - Introduction, pope, emperor, empress, cardinal, king, bishop, duke, abbot, knight, Carthusian, mayor, canon, nobleman, physician, usurer, curate, civil servant, parish clerk, merchant, hermit, peasant, young man, young woman, child
  - Nathanael Schlott authored the new text
    - Nathanael Schlott's text (published by himself in 1702)
    - Nathanael Schlott's text (transcribed by Jakob von Melle)
    - Nathanael Schlott's text (transcribed by Ludewig Suhl)
    - Nathanael Schlott's text (transcribed by Wilhelm Mantels)
  - Den Lybekske Dødning-Dantz, a Danish translation from 1738 of Schlott's text
  - Thomas Nugent: Travels through Germany - With a particular account of the courts of Mecklenburg.
    - Thomas Nugent's translation of the dance of death
  - Anton Wortmann copied the painting in 1701. How good a copy did he make?
- Pictures (reproductions of the painting in Lübeck)
- Printed books (books, where the text draws on Lübeck's dance of death)
  - Des dodes dantz Lübeck, 1489
    - Index, Prologue, Death to the pope, Pope, Emperor, Empress, Cardinal, King, Bishop, Duke, Abbot, Knight Templar, Monk, Knight, Canon, Mayor, Physician, Nobleman, Hermit, Citizen, Student, Merchant, Nun, Craftsman, Church warden, Peasant, Beguine, Rider, Maiden, Journeyman, Nurse with child, Epilogue
    - Des Dodes Dantz, the original text from 1489
    - Dodendantz, the original text from 1496
    - Des Dodes Dantz, the text with a more modern orthography
    - Low German dictionary by Baethcke
  - Dodendantz Lübeck, 1520
    - Prologue, Pope, Cardinal, Bishop, Emperor, Empress, King, Duke, Abbot, Crusader, Physician, Canon, Parish Priest, Monk, Knight, Official, Hermit, Burgomaster, Nun, Merchant, Nobleman, Maiden, Burgher, Beguine, Fool, Craftsman, Student, Peasant, Rider, Journeyman, Nurse with child
    - The complete text from Dodendantz
  - Copenhagen's Dance of Death Copenhagen, 1550
    - Pope, Emperor, Empress, King, Duke, Cardinal, Bishop, Abbot, German Templar, Physician, Canon, Vicar, Monk, Knight, Official, Hermit, Mayor, Nun, Merchant, Young lord, Maid, Citizen, Beguine, Jester, Craftsman, Student, Peasant, Rider, Nurse with child, Journeyman (The final sermon is only available in the Danish section)
    - Danish article by Lauritz Nielsen about the printer Hans Vingaard.
    - A poem, that might hint at the author and year of publication.
    - A conjecture about the original title of Copenhagen's Dance of Death.
    - Copenhagen's Dance of Death: The text
  - Dødedantz Copenhagen, 1634
    - Part 1, Part 2 (Note: page openings 21 through 24 are the same as 39 through 42 in Copenhagen's Dance of Death (in the Danish section).)
    - A comparison of the text in Dødedantz with Copenhagen's Dance of Death
    - Dødedantz: the text
  - Hermann Bote's dance of death
  - Der Alte Todtendantz Sächsisch
  - Is Dodendantz older than Des dodes dantz?
  - How old is Copenhagen's Dance of Death?
- The dance of death in Tallinn (Estonia)
  - Restoring the fragment in Tallinn
  - Is the fragment in Tallinn a remnant from Lübeck? No it isn't:
    - Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7
- Odds and ends about Lübeck
  - Historical timeline with photos of St. Mary's church from 1906 to 2001.
  - The chapel before the bombardment.
  - The chapel today (with stained glass windows).
Other dances of death
- Berlin's dance of death
  - The text from Berlin's dance of death
    - Franciscan Sacristan Curate Official Augustin friar Preacher Parish priest Carthusian monk Physician Monk Canon Abbot Bishop Cardinal Pope Jesus on the cross Emperor Empress King Duke Knight Mayor Usurer Young nobleman Merchant Craftsman Peasant Landlady Cook / fool
  - Berlin's dance of death and Dodendantz
- La Danse macabre, Paris
- The dance of death in London (St. Paul's cathedral)
  - Words of the translator, Words of the authority, Pope & emperor, Cardinal & king, Patriark & constable, Archbishop & baron, Princess, Bishop & squire, Abbot, abbess & bailif, Astronomer & burgess, Canon & merchant, Carthusian & sergeant, Monk & usurer, Physician & squire, Man of law & minstrel, Conjuror, Parson & labourer, Friar minor & child, Clerk & hermit, The king lying dead, Translator's words
  - Sources
    - Ellesmere 26 A 13
    - Lansdowne 699
    - Vossius VGG Q 9
    - Selden Supra 53
    - Cambridge R.3.21
      - R.3.21, the text
    - Vespasian A 25
    - Richard Tottel
    - William Dugdale
      - Dugdale, 1658, the text
      - Dugdale, 1658, a comparison
      - Dugdale, 1673, a comparison
      - Dugdale, 1718, a comparison
      - Dugdale, 1818, a comparison
- The dance of death in Basel (Switzerland)
  - Todten-tantz, Isaiah, Preacher, Charnel house, Pope, Emperor, Empress, King, Queen, Cardinal, Bishop, Duke, Duchess, Count, Abbot, Knight, Juror, Councilman, Canon, Physician, Nobleman, Noblewoman, Merchant, Abbess, Cripple, Hermit, Young man, Usurer, Young woman, Musician, Herold, Mayor, Executioner, Fool, Peddler, Blind man, Jew, Heathen, Heathen woman, Cook, Peasant, Child, Painter, Mother and child, Turk, Adam and Eve, Memento Mori, Double portrait
  - Der Todendantz
    - Der Todendantz - the text
    - Der Todendantz - a comparison
  - Huldrich Frölich
    - Zwen Todentäntz
    - Der Hochloblichen Statt Basel
    - Frölich's 1581-edition - the text
    - Frölich's 1581-edition - a comparison
    - Bern's dance of death - the text from Frölich's 1588-edition
  - Hans Bock the Elder
  - Johann Gross
    - Urbis Basil - the text from the 1625-edition
  - Coloured gouaches
  - Matthew Merian
    - Merian's 1621-edition - the text
    - Merian's 1625-edition - the text
    - Merian's 1649-edition - the text
    - Merian's 1649-edition - a comparison
    - Merian's preface (German text)
  - The family Mechel
    - Mechel's 1724-edition - the text
    - Frölich and Mechel in the 19^th Century
  - Emanuel Büchel
  - Hans Kluber
  - Jacques-Anthony Chovin
    - Chovin's 1744-edition - the text
    - Chovin's 1744-edition - a comparison
  - Abraham & Alexandre Girardet
  - Rudolf Feyerabend
  - Hieronymus Hess
    - Hess's 1830-edition - the text
    - Hess's 1830-edition - a comparison
  - Beck
  - Felix Schneider
  - Kleinbasel / Klingental
  - Demolition of the wall
  - The two dances in Basel - Kleinbasel and Großbasel
- The dance of death in Erfurt (Germany)
  - Death, Actress, Dancer, Singer, Gipsy woman, Cook, Astronomer, Typefounder, Quack, Judge, Printer, Cooper, Miller, Potter, Wax trader, Wedding inviter, Children, Grave digger, Mountain man, Mayor, Musician, Queen, Empress, Emperor, Pope, Field watch, Civil servant, Old man, Painter, Lawyer, Merchant, Banker, Colonel, Soldier, General, Innkeeper, Apothecary, Physician, Count and countess, Young woman, Young man, Priest, Canon, Cardinal, Hunter, Student, Orphanage, Elector, King, Adam and Eve, Christ, Old woman, Inspectors, Drunkard
  - The text
  - J. D. Pohle
  - H. Kruspe
  - Max Götz
    - The text
  - Bellermann
  - Arnold
  - Naumann
- The dance of death in Dresden (Germany)
- Der Doten dantz mit figuren
  - Dance-house, Ossuary, Pope, Cardinal, Bishop, Official, Canon, Priest, Chaplain, Abbot, Physician, Emperor, King, Duke, Count, Knight, Nobleman, Armor-bearer, Robber, Usurer, Citizen, Craftsman, Young man, Child, Innkeeper, Gambler, Thief, Evil monk, Good monk, Hermit, Doctor, Mayor, Senator, Lawyer, Scribe Nun, Citizeness, Young woman, Merchant, All ranks, Ossuary
  - The 1488-edition
    - The 1488-edition, the text
    - The 1488-edition compared with the 1492-edition
  - The 1492-edition
    - The 1492-edition, the text
  - The 1520-edition
    - The 1520-edition, the text
  - The Kassel-manuscript
    - The Kassel-manuscript, the text
  - Wilhelm Wernher von Zimmern's Vergänglichkeitsbuch
    - Copies of Zimmern
    - Donaueschingen 123
  - Kienzheim
    - Kienzheim, the text
  - Kleve
    - Kleve, the text
  - North-Bohemian dance
  - The musical instruments
- Danish Dances of Death
  - Lübeck's dance of death as seen by Hans Christian Andersen.
  - The National Museum
    - Pope, Old man, Soldier, Usurer, Emperor, Young woman, Lovers, Peacock, Peasant, Physician, Theologian, King, Cripple, Mother and child, Peddler, Board
  - Dances of death in Danish churches
    - Nørre Alslev & Egtved
    - Jungshoved & Ørslev
    - Malmø
      - Malmø: pope, emperor, bishop, king, queen and citizen
    - Ronneby
  - Chytræus: Dødsens Billedes bescriffuelse
  - Typus Omnium Morientium (printed in Copenhagen, 1622)
    - Part 2
  - Døde=Dands (printed in Copenhagen, 1762)
    - Dead men's music, Pope, Emperor, King, Jew, Turk, Lovers, Old man, Old woman, Children, Jesus' victory over Death, Psalm. 90 Chap. 12 v.
    - The entire text (1762-edition): Døde=Dands
    - The entire text (1814-edition): Døde=Dands
    - Inspiration for Døde=Dands
    - Døde=Dands in Swedish
  - Lorenz Frølich
  - The story about the Danish ship flag from 1427 (only in the Danish section)
- Oberdeutscher
  - Death's Dance, or Line of the Dead?
  - The World's oldest dance of death manuscript
    - The text
  - Cgm 270
    - Cgm 270 - the text
  - Augsburg 2° Cod. 157
  - Xyl. 39
    - The first Preacher, Pope, Emperor, Empress, King, Cardinal, Patriarch, Archbishop, Duke, Bishop, Count, Abbot, Knight, Lawyer, Canon, Physician, Nobleman, Noblewoman, Nun, Merchant, Cook, Beggar, Peasant, Child, Mother, The second preacher
    - Xyl. 39 - the text
  - Mgf 19, Berlin
    - Mgf 19 - the text
  - Heidelberg's Blockbook
    - Sermon, pope, emperor, empress, king, patriarch, archbishop, cardinal, bishop, duke, count, knight, abbot, juror, canon, physician, nobleman, noblewoman, merchant, pharmacist, nun, cook, peasant, cripple, mother, child
  - Murals in Ulm, Metnitz, Wil, Kleinbasel and Basel
Hans Holbein
- Creation, Temptation, Expulsion, Punishment, all men's bones, pope, emperor, king, cardinal, empress, queen, bishop, duke, abbot, abbess, nobleman, canon, judge, advocate, senator, preacher, priest, monk, nun, old woman, physician, astrologer, miser, merchant, sailor, knight, count, old man, countess, noblewoman, duchess, peddler, peasant, child, the Last Judgment, the escutcheon of Death, soldier, waggoner, gambler, robber, blind man, beggar, drunkard, fool, young woman, young man, boys
- Artists who have copied Holbein's dance of death:
  Hans Holbein (1526) - so-called proofs
  Hans Holbein (1538) - the original woodcuts i books
  Heinrich Aldegrever (1541)
  Heinrich Vogtherr (1544)
  Vincenzo Valgrisi (1545)
  Arnold Birckmann (1555)
  Juan de Icíar (1555)
  Valentin Wagner (1557)
  Scharffenberg (1576)
  Leonhart Straub (1581)
  David Chytraeus (1590)
  Peter Paul Rubens (ca. 1590)
  Fabio Glissenti (1596)
  Eberhard Kieser (1617)
  Rudolf and Conrad Meyer (1650)
  Wenceslaus Hollar (1651)
  De doodt vermaskert (1654)
  Thomas Neale (1657)
  Rudolf and Conrad Meyer (1650)
  Johann Weichard von Valvasor (1682)
  Erbaulicher Sterb-Spiegel (1704)
  Salomon van Rusting (1707)
  T. Nieuhoff Piccard (1720)
  Christian de Mechel (1780)
  David Deuchar (1788)
  John Bewick (1789)
  Alexander Anderson (1810)
  Wenceslaus Hollar (1816)
  "Mr. Bewick" (1825)
  Ludwig Bechstein (1831)
  Joseph Schlotthauer (1832)
  Francis Douce (1833)
  Carl Helmuth (1836)
  Francis Douce (1858, 2. edition)
  Henri Léon Curmer (1858)
  Tindall Wildridge (1887)
- Holbein's dagger sheath
- The ambassadors
- The format of Holbein's dance of death is an emblem book.
- Did Holbein create the dance of death?
- Holbein's sources and inspiration
Books of hours
Alphabets
- Holbein's dance of death alphabet - all 24 letters.
  - A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, X, Y, Z
- Wolffgang Köpfl
- Christoph Froschauer
- Cologne and Mainz
- Augsburg
- Hans Schott
- Greek alphabets
- Andreas Vesalius
- Cologne
- Heinrich Lödel
- Douce reprint
- Douce, revisited
- Odds and ends
Various subjects
- Jean Miélot's French Proverbs
- Swedish dances of death
- Les Accidens de l'Homme
  - Death
  - Adam and Eve
  - Cain and Abel
  - Young and old
  - Bull
  - Earthly goods
  - War
  - Famine
  - Pestilence
  - Three allies
  - Illness
  - Accident
  - Murderers
  - Justice
  - Lèse-majesté
  - Nobility
  - Soldiers
  - Women
  - Wealth
  - Child
  - Edifices
  - Dinner table
  - Minstrels
  - Hermit
  - Judgment day
  - Authority
- Reynke de Vos
  - First book:
  - Second book:
  - Third book:
  - Fourth book:
  - Original text:
  - Lübben:
- Le Mors de la Pomme
  - Prologue, Adam and Eve, Fall of man, The expulsion, After the Fall, Death and two angels, The mandate, Cain and Abel, Virgin, Old man, Noah and the ark, Giant, Princess, Child, Peasant, Emperor, Crucifixion, Doctor, Lovers, Pope, Soldiers, Moneychanger, Queen, Chaplain, Young woman, Deathbed, Judgment, Purgatory, Hellmouth, Amiens
  - The text
- Loups ravissans
  - Introduction, Death, Accident, Adam, Cain, Xerxes, The Three scourges , War, Mortality, Famine, Ganelon, Malady, Zimri, Marcus Manlius, Cacus, Haman, Alexander the Great, Bétisac, Gawain, Delilah & Myrrha, Cicero, Shechem, The Popes, Request from the Dead, Judgment Day
  - The text
- Francis Douce
- Burials
- Ossuaries
- Kort Vending - a school comedy from ca. 1570.
  - The (Danish) text from Kort Vending.
- The vision of the hermit
  - The text
- Introduction to the dance of death as an art from
  - Part 2, Part 3
- The moral of the story
- The dance of death as a mirror
- Adam, Eve and the original sin.
- God's wounds and the Man of Sorrows
- The black death (plague).
- Apocalypse Now and Death as a thief in the night.
- The Reformation
- Make your own dance of death (and find out why Dodendantz is so jumbled).
About this site
- Site map (you're reading it now! )
- Read my guest book
- Sign my guest book
- Contact information

Don't forget to take a look at all the pictures.