Die Bücher-Ornamentik Der Renaissance (Vol. I.) (page 1/5)

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62k.—Initial capital letter “K” from Dance of Death Alphabet.

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

62v.—Initial capital letter “U” from Dance of Death Alphabet

This decorative initial letter “U” or “V”, or drop cap, is from an alphabet designed by Hans Holbein and dating from 1523. It shows a man on horseback [...] [more...] [$]

Ornate border from 1878 Title Page (black version)

This is the ornate decorative border from the title page of this book; it features cherubs or putti (naked boys with wings) holding up giant urns or vases; mermaids and mermen; angels, vines, flowers and leaves, all in one border or frame! Although the border is probably from a medieval/mediaeval or renaissance source, it would of course [...] [more...] [$]

Drunken Man, Detail from Border

This part of the Sixteenth-Century border-image woodcut by Lucas Cranach the elder shows a man holding a large wineglass, holding a large tankard, with perhaps a barrel under his arm. He is crowned with flowers and his head is surrounded by bees. He is dressed in tatty rags, his leggings have holes at the knees and torn cuffs at the ankles, and his [...] [more...] [$]

62l.—Initial capital letter “L” from Dance of Death Alphabet.

This decorative initial letter “L”, or drop cap, is from an alphabet designed by Hans Holbein and dating from 1523. It features a skeleton, representing Death, standing on the left, [...] [more...] [$]