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

Full-page foliated border from 1478.

This ornate foliated border is festive (because I coloured it red) and swirly. It’s from the title page of a 1478 book, over 500 years old.

See the full title page.

Note that one side of the border is wider than the other; in a printed book the thicker (wider) side, [more...] [$]

Foliated Decorative Capital Letter “O”

This floriated letter “O” was used as an initial capital (a drop cap) on a title page inside this ornate mediæval border. The letter has an unusual spiral line round it, vines, leaves, and a strongly angled calligraphic stress. It dates from a book printed in 1478. [more...] [$]

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...] [$]