Drawing of a bishop confronting death in a pastoral scene. A skeleton figure, representing death, is depicted in dark robes facing a bishop holding a crosier. Sheep graze nearby. The sun shines over hills and structures in the background. The scene is enclosed by a frame decorated with crowns, skulls, scepters, helmets, and garlands. Two armored figures stand on either side. A Latin inscription is at the bottom of the drawing.
Read the visual description

Drawing of a bishop confronting death in a pastoral scene. A skeleton figure, representing death, is depicted in dark robes facing a bishop holding a crosier. Sheep graze nearby. The sun shines over hills and structures in the background. The scene is enclosed by a frame decorated with crowns, skulls, scepters, helmets, and garlands. Two armored figures stand on either side. A Latin inscription is at the bottom of the drawing.

National Gallery of Art · Print

Bishop

Wenceslaus Hollar after Hans Holbein the Younger after Abraham van Diepenbeeck

Date
1651
Medium
etching with border "Minerva and Hercules" (Pennington 233B)
Classification
Print
Accession number
1943.3.4885
Credit line
Rosenwald Collection
Time span
1651 to 1700
Department
CG-E

Portfolio and series

Series
Dance of Death [Pennington 233-262]

Subjects and terms

  • Death
  • Bohemian
  • Costume
  • Statue
  • Skull
  • Man
Provenance

Fritz Rumpf [1856-1927], Potsdam (Lugt 2161); (sale, C.G. Boerner, Leipzig, May 7-9, 1928, lot 588); purchased by Lessing J. Rosenwald [1891-1979], Jenkintown, PA (Lugt 1760b), 1928; gift to NGA, 1943.

NGA object ID 7807. Collection metadata is reproduced under CC0. This work is included because its NGA published-image record is marked open access; visitors should recheck the source record before substantial reuse.