Dance of Death, by Wolgemut (1493, c.)

Dance of Death, by Wolgemut (1493, c.)

Five skeletons are depicted in this illustration dancing around a grave. one of the skeletons is in the grave in a state of decomposition while covered by a shroud and with snakes crawling around its body. On the left, another skeleton is playing the flute while covered with the same shroud that covers the skeleton in the grave. This skeleton also has some flesh, especially in his arms and legs. Two skeletons dance in the middle of the picture. These are represented without flesh but with hair, unlike the skeleton playing the flute. Lastly, on the right, another skeleton appears joining the dancing. This one is represented in an earlier stage of decomposition, as some organs and guts are coming out of the body. Similar to the other two skeletons that still have flesh, this one is also partially covered by a shroud. This last skeleton is represented with long hair.

Wolgemut, Michael (c. 1434-1519)

Illustration in The Liber Chronicarum (or Nuremberg Chronicle) by Hartmann Schedel, 1493.
Other title: Registrum huius operis libri chronicarum cum figuris et imaginibus ab inicio mundi. Image 573, page 264r.

In University of Cambridge Digital Library, UK
http://cudl.lib.cam.ac.uk/view/PR-INC-00000-A-00007-00002-00888/573

Classmark: Inc.0.A.7.2[888]

Wikimedia Commons:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Nuremberg_chronicles_-_Dance_of_Death_(CCLXIIIIv).jpg

Archived in:
https://web.archive.org/web/20200121175917/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Nuremberg_chronicles_-_Dance_of_Death_(CCLXIIIIv).jpg

1493, c.

Woodcut.
Dimensions: Unknown