Hans Holbein's celebrated Dance of death : illustrated by a series of photo-lithographic facsimiles from the copy of the first edition now in the British Museum : accompanied by explanatory descriptions and a consise history of the origin and subsequ

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CharaCteristic conception and drawing of the two figures, Death and the Astrologer, thansor the beautifully designed ornaments of thericli sumiture of the room, whicli exhibiis the richdecorative taste of the time in a very successsul manner. The altitude of the Astrologer. seated, witha well-assumed air of gravity, in his ossiciat chair, and potnting to the suspended spheres as he is supposedio be setting fortii the evenis of the future, is sud-denly interrupted by Death, who, by the author of the appended verses, is made to exclaim, inuntingly, Thou tellest to others by phrases of doubie mean

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ERE is one of the most powe utly conceived subjects of the whole series. The thichnessos the walis, and the ponderousty double- barred window of the gold-lover'S retreat, arerepresented as amply sussicient to heep out ordinarythieves; but one laas glided in to whom bolis and bars are no impediment. The unceremonious visitorseats himself at the table covered with gold, and witha sudden Delingos grim drollery, helps himself to large handials of the abounding coin, to the horror andastonishment of the miser, Who either Sees, or instinctively feeis, that his hoariis are stipping a Vsrom him, and throws up his a s in direst dismay; perceiving that even the strongly-Clamped and doublepadloched chesis can no longer preserve to him a Single ounce of his dearly loved gold, sor he hears amysterious voice whispering to him, Who shali noWinherit ali the wealth thou hast amassed Θ '

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Qui congregat thesauros mendacii Vanus& excors est , Sc impingetur ad laque

V ain est his qui amassera

r. en ses lacet surpiis sera. .

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inii volunt diuites fieri incidunt in laqueum diaboli desideria mulra,Sc noctua , quae

mergunt homines in interitum. I AD T I si1 o. VI

Qui uocis mei es peritet foubdains, Et uous maine a perdicion.

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ROΜ the necessarily smali scale of the figures, this device cloes not possess thesame hind of graphic meriis as many of theothers, but it has nevertheless iis strihingseatures. The sali tom to fhreds hy the drivingstorm, and the asepearance of rain and winil against the Shy, are Weli rendered. The action os Death, in aPparently endeavouring to prevent the fali of thebrohen mast, is noti very obvious, though it may be intended to express that Death himself is siloched atthe wholesale harvest of victims so suddenly brought within his grasp, and seelis to spare sonae of thedoomed ones thus cast by adventurous greed os gaininto his clutches. The desperation of thoSe Who prepare to leap into the raging sea to esCape the lesserdangers of the straining vesset, and of those within it ho thro up their a s, imploring help that Can neverreacti them, are vigorousty though Simply expressed.

What risks are dared without contrition. Seas braved i and treacherous satis uniuri'd lSo men rusti oti to their perdition.

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Subito morienturAEsn media nocte turbas buntur populi,& auferent violentum abs manu, i OB π x x I I I I

A leneontre de i inhumain, Et te inolent osteront D'auec euix sans force de main.

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Quonsam erem Interierir non sumet sta cum Omnia,neq; cum eo descedet gloria eius. P S A L. x LVi II