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

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62s.—Initial capital letter “S” from Dance of Death Alphabet.

This decorative initial letter “S”, or drop cap, is from an alphabet designed by Hans Holbein and dating from 1523. The skeleton figures in the alphabet represent death. This letter, S, has two skeletons, or Deaths, one of whom is touching and kissing a large-breasted woman while [...] [more...] [$]

62w.—Initial capital letter “W” from Dance of Death Alphabet.

This decorative initial letter “W”, or drop cap, is from an alphabet designed by Hans Holbein and dating from 1523. Death, depicted as a skeleton, comes for a [...] [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...] [$]

62j.—Initial capital letter “J” for Dance of Death Alphabet.

The original Dance of Death alphabet lacks the letter J since this is more modern. So I made one, based on another letter. [more...] [$]

Ornate border from 1878 Title Page (red 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...] [$]