In the manuscript and illuminated copies of the “Romance of the Rose,” the “Pelerin de la vie humaine” and the “Chevalier Deliberé,” representations of Death as Atropos, are introduced.
A very ancient and masterly drawing of Death and the beggar, the outlines black on a blue ground, tinted with white and red. The figures
at bottom indicate its having been part of a Macaber Dance. Upright, 5¼ by 4. In the author’s possession.
Sir Thomas Lawrence had four very small drawings by Callot that seemed to be part of an intended series of a Dance of Death. 1. Death and the bishop. 2. Death and the soldier. 3. Death and the fool. 4. Death and the old woman.
An extremely fine drawing by Rembrandt of four Deaths, their hands joined in a dance, their faces outwards. One has a then fashionable female cap on his head, and another a cap and feather. Upright, 9½ by 6½. In the author’s possession.
A very singular drawing in pen and ink and bistre. In the middle, a sitting figure of a naked man holding a spindle, whilst an old woman, leaning over a tub on a bench, cuts the thread which he has drawn out. Near the old woman Death peeps in behind a wall. Close to the bench is a woman sitting on the ground mending a piece of linen, a child leaning on her shoulder. On the other side is a sitting female weaving, and another woman in an upright posture, and stretching one of her hands towards a shelf. Oblong, 11¼ by 8. In the author’s possession.
An anonymous drawing in pen and ink of a Death embracing a naked woman. His companion is mounted on the back of another naked female, and holds a dart in each hand. Oblong, 4 by 3¼. In the author’s possession.
A single sheet, containing four subjects, skilfully drawn with a pen and tinted in Indian ink. 1. An allegorical, but unknown figure sitting on a globe, with a sort of sceptre in his right hand. Death seizes him by his garment with great vigour, and endeavours to pull him from his seat. 2. Two men eating and drinking at a table. Death, unperceived, enters the room, and levels his dart at them. 3. Death seizes two naked persons very amorously situated. 4. Death seizes a miser counting his money. In the author’s possession.
Twenty-four very beautiful coloured drawings by a modern artist from those in the public library at Berne that were copied by Stettler from Kauw’s drawings of the original painting by Nicolas Manuel Deutch. In the author’s possession, together with lithographic copies of them that have been recently published at Berne.[137]