Die Bücher-Ornamentik Der Renaissance (Vol. I.) (page 3/5)

Fantasy Romantic Border with Eros, Cherubs and Mermaids

This ornate rococo border surrounded the title of a 1516 book printed in Germany: [more...]

Eros (Cherub with Bow)

An Eros, or cherub with a bow, from this ornate Renaissance border, a woodcut title page of a 1516 book. [more...]

Plate 62, Dance of Death Alphabet (overview)

Plate 62 is Holbein’s Dance of Death alphabet. I am making the individual letters available at higher resolution; this image is just a place to put the notes and to let you get a feel for the whole alphabet. [more...]

62a.—Initial capital letter “A” from Dance of Death Alphabet

This decorative initial letter “A”, or drop cap, is from an alphabet designed by Hans Holbein the Younger and dating from 1523. It features a skeleton banging a drum (or tabor) with a bone, and also playing a fife, followed by another skeleton waving a banner, or possibly playing a trumpet. Some commentators say they are marching through a graveyard [...] [more...]

62b.—Initial capital letter “B” from Dance of Death Alphabet

This decorative initial letter “B”, or drop cap, is from an alphabet designed by Hans Holbein and dating from 1523. It features two skeletons, or death-figures, a dog and a pope. Some commentators say the dog is actually a demon, [...] [more...]

62c.—Initial capital letter “C” from Dance of Death Alphabet

This decorative initial letter “C”, or drop cap, is from an alphabet designed by Hans Holbein and dating from 1523. it features an emperor in the clutches of two skeletons, or Deaths, one of [...] [more...]

62d.—Initial capital letter “D” from Dance of Death Alphabet

This decorative initial letter “D”, or drop cap, is from an alphabet designed by Hans Holbein and dating from 1523. It features a king thrown to the ground and [...] [more...]

62e.—Initial capital letter “E” from Dance of Death Alphabet

This decorative initial letter “E”, or drop cap, is from an alphabet designed by Hans Holbein and dating from 1523. It features a skeleton, representing [...] [more...]

62f.—Initial capital letter “F” from Dance of Death Alphabet.

This decorative initial letter “F”, or drop cap, is from an alphabet designed by Hans Holbein and dating from 1523. Two grinning skeletons, representing Death, are attacking an empress sitting in her throne; one of the [...] [more...]

62g.—Initial capital letter “G” from Dance of Death Alphabet.

This decorative initial letter “G”, or drop cap, is from an alphabet designed by Hans Holbein and dating from 1523. It shows two skeletons, or Death figures, siezing a queen; one skeleton plays the flute, or fife, [...] [more...]

62h.—Initial capital letter “H” from Dance of Death Alphabet.

This decorative initial letter “H”, or drop cap, is from an alphabet designed by Hans Holbein and dating from 1523. It depicts a skeleton, representing Death, dragging off a bishop. [more...]

62i.—Initial capital letter “I” from Dance of Death Alphabet.

This decorative initial letter “I”, or drop cap, is from an alphabet designed by Hans Holbein and dating from 1523. It is also used for “J.” It features a skeleton (Death) in the guise of an old woman, tugging at a man, a duke, with his [...] [more...]