The dance of death at Basel: death and the Chinese. Lithograph by G. Danzer after H. Hess.

Reference:
30507i
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Description

These lithographs are derived from the dance of death frescos painted on the walls of the churchyard of the Dominican cloister in Basel. Executed between 1437 and 1441, these frescos were often altered and were finally removed in 1805 when damages could not be restored. Some of the wall fragments are preserved in the history museum in Basel

Publication/Creation

Bâle [Basel] : Albert Sattler, Editeur

Physical description

1 print : lithograph, printed with beige background ; image 17 x 13 cm

Lettering

Der Tod zum Chinesen. Komm her, du complimentennarr! Civilisirter Halbbarbar! Von deinen Götzen, deinen Frauen, mit deinen langen Adels Klauen. Antwort des Chinesen. O himmlisch Reich mit seinem Thee! Hilf grosser, weiser Confuze! Mein Opium und sein Begeistern, bringt mir den Tod, mich zu bemeistern. Lettering incomplete Bears number top right : No. 35.

References note

S. Cosacchi, Makabertanz; Der Totentanz in Kunst, Poesie und Brauchtum des Mittelalters, Meisenheim am Glan 1965, pp. 759-764, pp. 816-817
The Dance of Death at Basle, printed for C.F. Beck, Basle 1852

Reference

Wellcome Collection 30507i

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