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)
Ludewig Suhl
Ludwig Hauttmann
Robert Geißler
The brothers Borchers
Thomas King
Carl Julius Milde
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 men's dance of death
Authority
Musicians
Pope and emperor
Cardinal and king
Legate and duke
Patriarch and constable
Archbishop and knight
Bishop and esquire
Abbot and bailiff
Astrologer and citizen
Canon and merchant
Schoolmaster and soldier
Carthusian and sergeant
Monk and usurer
Physician and suitor
Lawyer and minstrel
Parish priest and peasant
Promoter and jailor
Pilgrim and shepherd
Franciscan Monk and child
Clerk and hermit
Halberdier and fool
Dead king and authority
Three living and Three dead
The women's dance of death
Authority
Musicians
Queen and duchess
Regent and knight's wife
Abbess and noblewoman
Prioress and young woman
Citizeness and widow
Merchant's wife and bailiff's wife
Bride and darling wife
Virgin and theologianess
Newly-wed and pregnant woman
Chambermaid and housekeeper
Spinster and Franciskan Nun
Hospitable woman and wetnurse
Shepherdess and crutches
Peasant woman and old woman
Resales woman and suitoress
Midwife and young girl
Nun and witch
Bigot woman and fool
Dead queen and authority
The Latin texts
Headlines and titles
Respit de la Mort
Dating the dance
Historians
A reliable witness
?
St. Innocents' Cemetery
City Maps
Contemporary representations
Claude-Louis Bernier
Fedor Hoffbauer
Manuscripts
:
Ms. Lille 139
Ms. Add. 38858
A comparison
Ms. Fr. 1055
Ms. Fr. 1181
Ms. 25434
A comparison
The text
Ms. Lat. 14904
A comparison
Ms. 25550
Fr. 14989
Fr. 1186
The text (men)
The text (women)
A comparison
BNF Fr. 995
The text (men)
The text (women)
A comparison
St. Omer 127
Haag 71 E 49
Saint Victor
Printed books:
Guyot Marchant, 1485
The text
Guy Marchant, 1485/86
The text
A comparison
Miroer Salutaire, 1486
The text (men)
The text (women)
A comparison
Chorea ab eximio, 1490
Danse macabre des femmes
The text
A comparison
Kalendrier des Bergeres
Antoine Vérard
The text
A comparison
Lyon
- Matthias Huss
Matthias Huss, 1499
- the raw text
Claude Nourry
Troyes
The text
Oudot
- 1641
Oudot
- Troyes around 1700
Garnier
- Troyes after 1766
Rouen
Petit Laurens
The text
A comparison
Nicole de la Barre
The text
A comparison
Jean Belot
The text
Geneva, 1503
Trepperel's heirs
The text
La Danse Machabray
A comparison
Modern reprints:
Silvestre, 1858
The text
(men)
The text
(women)
A comparison
(men)
A comparison
(women)
Paris, 1862
A comparison
(men)
A comparison
(women)
Tisserand, 1867
The text
A comparison
Miot-Frochot, 1868
The text
A comparison
Dufour, 1874
The text
Yvon, 1977
The text (men)
A comparison
The text (women)
A comparison
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)
The dance at the castle
After the fire
The verses
Moving day
The dancers
The artist
Stonemasons
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
The Office of the Dead
Dances of death
Rothschild 2535
Morgan 359
Lewis E 113
Beinecke MS 411
Douce Ms. 135
Upenn 1945-65-13
Carol V
Men
Women
Simon Vostre
Vostre's 66 dancers
Guillaume Godard
Thielman Kerver (Latin)
Thielman Kerver (Dutch)
Jacobinus Suigus
Marcus Reinhart
English prayers
Las Horas
Accidens de l'Homme
La Vie de l'Homme
Comparison
The apple of death
The ravishing wolves
The dance of the blind
Guillaume Godard
The 23 verses
Léon Le Maire
M
lle
d'Aligny
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:
First preface
Second preface
chapter 1
chapter 2
chapter 3
chapter 4
chapter 5
chapter 6
chapter 7
chapter 8
chapter 9
chapter 10
chapter 11
chapter 12
chapter 13
chapter 14
chapter 15
chapter 16
chapter 17
chapter 18
chapter 19
chapter 20
chapter 21
chapter 22
chapter 23
chapter 24
chapter 25
chapter 26
chapter 27
chapter 28
chapter 29
chapter 30
chapter 31
chapter 32
chapter 33
chapter 34
chapter 35
chapter 36
chapter 37
chapter 38
chapter 39
Second book:
Introductino
chapter 1
chapter 2
chapter 3
chapter 4
chapter 5
chapter 6
chapter 7
chapter 8
chapter 9
Third book:
Preface
chapter 1
chapter 2
chapter 3
chapter 4
chapter 5
chapter 6
chapter 7
chapter 8
chapter 9
chapter 10
chapter 11
chapter 12
chapter 13
chapter 14
Fourth book:
Preface
chapter 1
chapter 2
chapter 3
chapter 4
chapter 5
chapter 6
chapter 7
chapter 8
chapter 9
chapter 10
chapter 11
chapter 12
chapter 13
Original text:
Book 1
Book 2
Book 3
Book 4
Lübben:
Book 1
Book 2
Book 3
Book 4
Word list
Glossary
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).
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.
Dansk
The dance of death
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