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The Advocate
Holbein, Hans, 1497-1543A woodcut depicting a skeleton (= Death) holding an hourglass representing mortality above an advocate as he takes payment from another man. The woodcut is accompanied by a verse from Proverbs 22 translated into French (top) and then reformatted into verse (bottom). -
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The Judge
Holbein, Hans, 1497-1543A woodcut depicting a skeleton (= Death) looking over a judge sitting in a chair as it tries to take the rod which symbolizes his authority. Two men stand before the judge: one is seen reaching into his purse to offer a bribe (which the judge appears eager to accept), while the other awaits his sentence. On the floor an hourglass, the reminder of human mortality, has been knocked over. The woodcut is accompanied by a verse from Amos 2 translated into French (top) and then reformatted into verse (bottom). -
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The Canon
Holbein, Hans, 1497-1543A woodcut depicting a canon holding an hourglass as he is led into a building by a skeleton, representing Death. The woodcut is accompanied by a verse from Matthew 26 translated into French (top) and then reformatted into verse (bottom). -
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The Nobleman
Holbein, Hans, 1497-1543A woodcut depicting a nobleman fighting with a skeleton which represents Death. Behind the nobleman is an hourglass representing human mortality. The woodcut is accompanied by a verse from Psalms 88 translated into French (top) and then reformatted into verse (bottom). -
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The Abbess
Holbein, Hans, 1497-1543A woodcut depicting a skeleton (= Death) leading an abbess away. The abbess holds a rosary in her hands and a crosier underneath her arm. In the bottom left-hand corner is an hourglass representing human mortality. The woodcut is accompanied by a verse from Ecclesiastes 4 translated into French (top) and then reformatted into verse (bottom). -
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The Abbot
Holbein, Hans, 1497-1543A woodcut depicting a skeleton dressed as a bishop with a mitre and crosier, and representing death, taking the cloak of an abbot who holds a prayer book. In the tree is an hourglass representing human mortality. The woodcut is accompanied by a verse from Proverbs 5 translated into French (top) and then reformatted into verse (bottom). -
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The Duke
Holbein, Hans, 1497-1543A woodcut depicting a skeleton (= Death) reaching for a duke, while a woman pleads before him over her child. In the upper left-hand corner is an hourglass representing human mortality. The woodcut is accompanied by a verse from Ezekiel 7 translated into French (top) and then reformatted into verse (bottom). -
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The Bishop
Holbein, Hans, 1497-1543A woodcut depicting a skeleton (= Death) taking a bishop by the hand and leading him from his pasture and flock. The Bishop holds a crosier, while an hourglass rests in the bottom left corner. The woodcut is accompanied by verses from Matthew 26 and Mark 14 translated into French (top) and then reformatted into verse (bottom). -
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The Queen
Holbein, Hans, 1497-1543A woodcut depicting Death, wearing a jester's cap and holding an hourglass, seizing a queen while her attendants struggle to free her from his grip. The woodcut is accompanied by a verse from Isaiah 32 translated into French (top) and then reformatted into verse (bottom). -
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The Empress
Holbein, Hans, 1497-1543A woodcut depicting Death escorting an empress as she and her court enjoy a walk outside the palace, and pointing out a nearby grave to display the limits of the empress' dominion. The woodcut is accompanied by a verse from Daniel 4 translated into French (top) and then reformatted into verse (bottom). -
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The King
Holbein, Hans, 1497-1543A woodcut depicting a king resting at a banquet as a skeleton (= Death) pours him something to drink. The hourglass on the table reminds the viewer of human mortality. The woodcut is accompanied by a verse from Ecclesiastes 10 translated into French (top) and then reformatted into verse (bottom). -
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The Emperor
Holbein, Hans, 1497-1543A woodcut depicting an emperor listening to the petition of one of his subjects. A skeleton, representing death, holds the crown on the emperor’s head, as the emperor holds a broken sword. An orb, a scepter, and an hourglass sit on the ground at his feet. The emperor is also wearing the collar of the Order of the Golden Fleece. The woodcut is accompanied by verses from Isaiah 38 and 22 translated into French (top) and then reformatted into verse (bottom). -
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The Pope
Holbein, Hans, 1497-1543A woodcut depicting the Pope wearing the papal triple tiara, crowns a king (the globus cruciger on the ground before him), as cardinals, bishops, skeletons (representing death; one in cardinal's garb), and two flying demons (one with papal decree in hand) look on. The woodcut is accompanied by verses from Joshua 20 and Psalms 108 translated into French (top) and then reformatted into verse (bottom). -
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Death in the Cemetery
Holbein, Hans, 1497-1543A woodcut depicting a band of skeletons playing musical instruments in a cemetery. The woodcut is accompanied by verses from Revelations 8 and Genesis 7 translated into French (top) and then reformatted into verse (bottom). -
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The Consequences of the Fall
Holbein, Hans, 1497-1543A woodcut depicting Adam laboring beside a skeleton (representing Death) while Eve feeds their child in the background. The woodcut is accompanied by a verse from Genesis 2 translated into French (top) and then reformatted into verse (bottom). -
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Expulsion from the Garden of Eden
Holbein, Hans, 1497-1543A woodcut depicting Adam and Eve being driven from the garden of Eden by an angel. The woodcut is accompanied by a verse from Genesis 3 translated into French (top) and then reformatted into verse (bottom). -
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The Fall of Adam and Eve
Holbein, Hans, 1497-1543A woodcut depicting Adam and Eve eating from the Tree of Knowledge, thus committing the Original Sin. The woodcut is accompanied by a verse from Genesis 3 translated into French (top) and then reformatted into verse (bottom). -
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The Creation of Eve
Holbein, Hans, 1497-1543A woodcut depicting God creating Eve from one of Adam's ribs. The woodcut is accompanied by a verse from Genesis 1-2 translated into French (top) and then reformatted into verse (bottom). -
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Printer's device of Jean Frellon
Holbein, Hans, 1497-1543A woodcut of the printer's device of Jean Frellon appearing on the title page of Les Images de la Mort. The device features a crab holding a moth above the motto: MATVRA. -
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Bishop's Mitre
A woodcut of a heavily decorated bishop's mitre accompanied by a poem, "The Daughter of Myst'ry, the child of Errour, / Mother of Tyranny, of Wars, of Terrour, / The Idol of Reproach, Rocke of offence / To Iew and Gentile, Source of Indulgence / For all Impieties, and th'usurping Crest / 'Bove Diademes, the State, the Churches Pest / Is now discov'red, and all the world awake, / Makes proud Rome, and th'opprobrious Myter shake."