Emblems of Mortality; representing, in upwards of fifty cuts, death seizing all ranks and degrees of people

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Hawkins, John Sidney, 1758-1842

Contributor:

Bewick, John, 1760-1795

Holbein, Hans, 1497?-1543.

Language:

English

Physical Description:

1 online resource : multiple file formats

Place of Publication:

Salt Lake City, UT : Project Gutenberg,

Summary:

"Emblems of Mortality; representing, in upwards of fifty cuts, death seizing all..." is a collection of illustrated works likely compiled in the late 18th century. The book presents a series of artistic engravings, each symbolizing how death indiscriminately claims individuals across all social classes and ranks. It draws inspiration from similar works from earlier eras, particularly from the "Imagines Mortis," and serves both as an artistic endeavor and a contemplation on the nature of mortality. The content of the book comprises various illustrated representations of death engaging with figures from different societal standings, including the Pope, Emperor, Knight, and Peasant, accompanied by poignant poetic verses that reflect perspectives on mortality and the inevitability of death. Each engraving showcases the stark reality that regardless of status or wealth, all humans are ultimately subject to the same fate. These illustrations and verses serve to educate, provoke thought, and entertain readers, making it a notable exploration of the universal theme of death within the context of the era's artistic traditions. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Credits:

deaurider and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive)

Notes:

Reading ease score: 62.2 (8th & 9th grade). Neither easy nor difficult to read.

Pref. by J. S. Hawkins.

Cuts are copies by John Bewick of woodcuts by Hans Lützelburger after designs by Holbein.

Release date is 2021-05-03