Der Todten-Tantz

The Dance of Death

Illustrated by Georg Scharffenberg and others

To the left, we show this example's non-contemporary, but antique, binding with leather cover.                 On the right is shown the title page from Der Todten-Tantz (1796) published by Gebrüden von Mechel (Basel).

Der Todten-Tantz - translated as The Dance of Death (English) - including the illustrations of Georg Scharffenberg

was a variation on a theme extending from the Medieval World and remaining popular throughout the

Renaissance that followed into the present day.

The premise for the theme is simple enough and one that is undoubtedly just as relevant in the current times as

it was throughout Europe during the Middle Ages, namely, the ever present specter of Death and the exploration

of its role in moving people from this life to the next.

Following the masterful interpretation of the concept by Hans Holbein the Younger - his variant on the theme

was published in 1538 - other artists turned their talents to producing suites of illustrations for print, including

Scharffenberg (who prepared his illustrations in, or about 1576). The suite of illustrations from Scharffenberg and

his fellow collaborators survives in the form of Der Todten-Tantz in which the wonderful illustrations are purported

to be linked with the surviving text from the Medieval "Dance of Death" mural formerly located in one of Basle's

Medieval churches (fragments of this mural can be seen today in Basle's Historical Museum [Historisches Museum

Basel]).

It appears that the work of Scharffenberg and his fellow collaborators may have been originally prepared from

the "Dance of Death" mural known to have been installed at the Dominican Convent in Basle. That attribution is

drawn from the plate appearing within this suite of illustrations that reproduces the memorial dedication to the

family of Hank Klauber and Barbara Hallerin that is known to have been added to the the Basle mural during its

restoration some time after 1568. Klauber - reputedly an eminent painter at the time - was commissioned to

undertake restoration work on the mural, in addition to adding a scene depicting Oecolampadius preaching in

hommage to the recent Reformation. During that restoration activity, Klauber added depictions of himself, his

wife and his son - in a style similar to the other elements of the mural (that image has subsequently become

associated with the text identified as "Der Mahler").

In addition to Scharffenberg's monogram ("GS" and the associated stylised woodcutter's knife), other artists

contributing to the memorial work - later to become associated with Basle's Der Todten-Tantz - are identified

by the following monograms appearing within the suite: "D.R."; and "K". The monogram "D.R." is noted by

Bartsch.

As published by the Mechel brothers, Die Todten-Tantz is a souvenir, of sorts, of Basle's medieval "Dance of Death"

mural which, is promoted with the following words:

The Dance of Death, painted most skillfully, and in lively colours, in the very famous town

of Basel, as a mirror of human life, and not to be looked at without admiration.

Many of the illustrations from Scharffenberg and his other collaborators are more appropriately linked with the

traditional text associated with the suite of woodcuts produced by Holbein, and it is that text that we have associated,

where appropriate, with each image from this suite highlighted within the Collection.

Some commentators have suggested that the illustrations produced by Scharffenberg and his co-contributors may

be viewed as blending a variety of styles and themes pursued by other artists, including Holbein and Jobst Amman.

In doing so, the illustrations bridge the gap between the earlier Medieval vision of Death as a malevolent interfering

character and Holbein's attempts to reform the perception of Death to one of a willing guide for the travelling Soul.

Thus, in Scharffenberg's version of 'The Blind Man', for example, Death is shown leading the Man by his cane (in the

spirit of Holbein's work), in addition to actively cutting the leash to the guide dog with scissors (a reflection on the

earlier Medieval tradition). In taking this approach, to some degree, Scharffenberg is inviting the viewer to consider

the merits of an artistic counter- reformation - a fitting journey considering the time in which he lived.

Such a critique appears to have some merit, but it is also worth considering the reported comments of visitors to

Basel, including Blainville, who wrote about the Dominican "Dance of Death". Douce (1833) described Blainville's

detailed comment made after he viewed the mural in 1707:

He particularizes two of the most remarkable subject, namely, the fat jolly cook, whom Death

seizes by the hand, carrying on his shoulder a spit with a capon ready larded, which he looks

upon with a wishful eye, as if he regretted being obliged to set out before it was quite roasted.

The other figure is that of the blind beggar led by his dog, whom Death snaps up with one hand,

and with the other cuts the string by which the dog was tied to his master's arm.

Given the reported comments of Blainville, the suite of images published by the Mechel brothers may deserve

recognition as a record of the great mural in its own right.

Our Greeting Cards and Reproduction Prints

For connoisseurs, we have prepared sets of 41 Greeting Cards displaying each of the images from Der Todten-Tantz and on the left, we show an example of how these Greeting Cards appear. Ordering one of those sets is as easy as selecting the "Add to Cart" feature below and following the prompts provided with our Shopping Cart secured through PayPal. Multiple purchases will be consolidated by that feature and shipping and handling costs to any destination in the world are accommodated by our flat-rate fee of US$20 for every US$200 worth of purchases.     Code: GS TT MS(41) Price: US$205.00

When presented on Greeting Cards, these images are prepared as tipped-on plates - in hommage to the hand-crafted

approach typical of prestige illustrated publications produced in the early decades of the 20th Century. Each card is

hand-finished and the images are presented on White card stock with an accompanying envelope. On the rear of each

card we also present some information about this great work and each individual illustration. We have left the interior

of the cards blank so that you may write your own personal message.

Should you wish to order a Reproduction Print or an individual Greeting Card from this suite, or simply like to read

more about any of the images in this superb set, please follow the hyperlinks (that is, click on the illustration of

interest) and you will be taken through to a page dedicated to that illustration. Of course, should you wish to discuss

some customised options, we welcome your contact on any matter through ThePeople@SpiritoftheAges.com.

In the meantime, enjoy perusing these powerful images from the suite published as Der Todten-Tantz including

designs by Scharffenberg and his fellow collaborators.

The plates from Der Todten-Tantz

Der Prediger spricht (The Preacher) Plate 1	Vom Juengsten Gericht (The Last Judgment) Plate 2	Des Pabst (The Pope) Plate 3	Der Kæyser (The Emperor) Plate 4
Die Kæyserin (The Empress) Plate 5	Der Kœnig (The King) Plate 6	Die Kœnigin (The Queen) Plate 7	Der Cardinal (The Cardinal) Plate 8
Der Bischoff (The Bishop) Plate 9	Der Hertzog (The Duke) Plate 10	Der Ritter (The Knight) Plate 11	Der Abbt (The Abbot) Plate 12
Der Edelmann (The Nobleman) Plate 13	Die Edelfrau (The Noblewoman) Plate 14	Der Jurist (The Advocate) Plate 15	Der Rathsherr (The Councilor) Plate 16
Der Chorherr (The Canon) Plate 17	Der Doctor (The Physician) Plate 18	Der Kauffmann (The Merchant) Plate 19	Die Aeptitzin (The Abbess) Plate 20
Der Waldbruder (The Hermit) Plate 21	Der Juengling (The Young Man) Plate 22	Die Jungfrau (The Maiden) Plate 23	Der Wucherer (The Usurer) Plate 24
Der Kilbepfeiffer (The Piper) Plate 25	Der Schultheitz (The Judge) Plate 26	Der Narr (The Fool) Plate 27	Der Kræmer (The Pedlar) Plate 28
Der blinde Mann (The Blind Man) Plate 29	Der Jud (The Jew) Plate 30	Der Heyd (The Heathen) Plate 31	Die Heydin (The Heathen's Wife) Plate 32
Der Koch (The Cook) Plate 33	Der Bauer (The Farmer) Plate 34	Das Kind (The Child) Plate 35	Der Mahler (The Painter) Plate 36
Der Sausser (The Drunkard) Plate 37	Der Spieler (The Gambler) Plate 38	Der Ræuber (The Robber) Plate 39	Adam und Eva (The Temptation and Fall) Plate 40
Adam und Eva (The Expulsion) Plate 41