Hans Holbein the Younger (1497–1543), remembered today for his insightful portraits, was better known in his own time for his varied and extensive graphic works, the most celebrated of which was The Dance of Death. This work, from the woodblocks of collaborator Hans Lützelburger, was first published in book form in 1538.The theme of the dance of death was a popular one of the sixteenth century. Holbein captured the feeling of death, the leveler, in its attack on all classes, both se...

Hans Holbein the Younger (1497–1543) ranks among history’s most gifted and perceptive portrait painters. His objectivity, realism, and superb draftsmanship have influenced artists and commanded the admiration of the world for over four centuries.This handsome volume presents 44 of Holbein’s finest portrait drawings, created while he worked as court painter to Henry VIII. This artist’s record of one of the world’s most brilliant and tempestuous courts, in drawings and finished portra...

A new departure in Penguin Classics: a book containing one of the greatest of all Renaissance woodcut sequences - Holbein's bravura danse macabreOne of Holbein's first great triumphs, The Dance of Death is an incomparable sequence of tiny woodcuts showing the folly of human greed and pride, with each image packed with drama, wit and horror as a skeleton mocks and terrifies everyone from the emperor to a ploughman. Taking full advantage of the new ...

"The Dances of Death" is a remarkable collection of woodcut illustrations by Hans Holbein, showcasing the universal theme of mortality. Through a series of striking images, Holbein depicts the Dance of Death, where figures from various walks of life are confronted by Death, emphasizing the inevitability of mortality. Each illustration serves as a poignant reminder that death unites all, regardless of social status or wealth. The artwork is both haunting and thought-provoking, inviting view...

Hans Holbein the Younger, a Northern Renaissance master generally regarded as one of the greatest portraitists of art history, came from a family of prominent artists. His stunning portraits are renowned for their unprecedented naturalism and precise draughtsmanship. Holbein’s most enduring achievement is his record of the court of King Henry VIII, which we continue to view through his eyes and unique mode of expression. The influence of his work on the course of English portraitur...

"In the Shadow of the King" by Deborah O'Toole is a semi-fictional account of the dramatic life of Sir Francis Bryan, confidant to King Henry VIII.