Luke Clennell’s Dance Of Death
More than twenty years have passed since my father died at this time of year and thoughts of mortality always enter my mind as the nights begin to draw in, as I prepare to face the spiritual challenge of another long dark winter ahead. So Luke Clennell’s splendid DANCE OF DEATH engravings inspired by Hans Holbein suit my mordant sensibility at this season.
First published in 1825 as the work of ‘Mr Bewick’, they have recently been identified for me as the work of Thomas Bewick’s apprentice Luke Clennell by historian Dr Ruth Richardson.
The Desolation
The Queen
The Pope
The Cardinal
The Elector
The Canon
The Canoness
The Priest
The Mendicant Friar
The Councillor or Magistrate
The Astrologer
The Physician
The Merchant
The Wreck
The Swiss Soldier
The Charioteer or Waggoner
The Porter
The Fool
The Miser
The Gamesters
The Drunkards
The Beggar
The Thief
The Newly Married Pair
The Husband
The Wife
The Child
The Old Man
The Old Woman
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Gulp. Oh, the dangers of being a Drunkard, a Gamester, a Thief, or other ne’er-do-well. But, lordy, even the benign people in the mix seem to have worries — just LOOK at the Newly Married Pair?
I fear for the young woman — both her husband and the skeleton look like they about to pounce.
Both dangerous characters, and she is no match for either of them. In the subsequent panels, the husband goes prancing off with the skeleton, up to no good. And later still, the lady trembles and wipes her tears, as a suspicious swain provides the tune to an evil dance. Is there no one to save our fair lady?
As a longtime fan of Jose Guadalupe Posada and HIS marauding skeletons, I loved seeing this
earlier series by a master engraver. Although Thomas Bewick is a notable in this realm, I feel that the work by Clennell has him beat. Just sayin”. Thank you , GA.