Die Bücher-Ornamentik Der Renaissance (Vol. I.) (page 4/5)

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...]

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...]

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...]

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...]

62m.—Initial capital letter “M” from Dance of Death Alphabet.

This decorative initial letter “M”, or drop cap, is from an alphabet designed by Hans Holbein and dating from 1523. It shows a doctor of physician in his study or laboratory, holding up a vessel. Behind him, Death (the skeleton) reaches for the doctor, with one bony hand on his shoulder and the other on the vessel. Or, possibly, Death [...] [more...]

62n.—Initial capital letter “N” from Dance of Death Alphabet.

This decorative initial letter “N”, or drop cap, is from an alphabet designed by Hans Holbein and dating from 1523. It shows a money-lender, or perhaps a miser, counting his money; two skeletons, representing Death, have arrived: one [...] [more...]

62o.—Initial capital letter “O” from Dance of Death Alphabet.

This decorative initial letter “O”, or drop cap, is from an alphabet designed by Hans Holbein and dating from 1523. The skeleton figures in the alphabet represent death. This [...] [more...]

62p.—Initial capital letter “P” from Dance of Death Alphabet.

This decorative initial letter “P”, 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, P, includes a battle between a skeleton, representing Death, and a soldier. At first I tought the soldier was an early aircraft pilot wearing goggles, but it seems unlikely [...] [more...]

62q.—Initial capital letter “Q” from Dance of Death Alphabet.

This decorative initial letter “Q”, 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, Q, includes an illustration in which a skeleton, representing Death, is leading a nun away; she [...] [more...]

62r.—Initial capital letter “R” from Dance of Death Alphabet.

This decorative initial letter “R”, 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, R, includes a skeletons, or Death, being fought by a jester or fool. The implication is [...] [more...]

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...]