Dance of Death
Printing Block
ca. 1890-1912 (made)
ca. 1890-1912 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This block has only been partially engraved and therefore shows how the engraver William Harcourt Hooper (1834–1912) translated the photographed design into an appropriate syntax of lines.
Designs could be transferred onto blocks in various ways: an original print could be wet and pressed onto the block to transfer some of the ink, a drawing or tracing could be pasted onto the block and cut through, or an artist could draw directly onto the block (see D.154-1906 in 514A/19/DR 14). Each of these methods of transfer involved destruction of the original design. Here, a photograph of the design was exposed onto a light sensitised block. Thomas Bolton developed the method in the mid-1860s.
Designs could be transferred onto blocks in various ways: an original print could be wet and pressed onto the block to transfer some of the ink, a drawing or tracing could be pasted onto the block and cut through, or an artist could draw directly onto the block (see D.154-1906 in 514A/19/DR 14). Each of these methods of transfer involved destruction of the original design. Here, a photograph of the design was exposed onto a light sensitised block. Thomas Bolton developed the method in the mid-1860s.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Dance of Death (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Wood-engraving |
| Brief description | Wood-engraved block, partially cut, with photographically transferred drawing. William Harcourt Hooper. Holbein's Dance of Death, ca. 1890-1912. |
| Physical description | Scene from Holbein's Dance of Death, photographically transferred to a block and partally cut. The Pope, surrounded by cardinals and bishops, sits in a canopied throne. Hovering above the throne is a demons and behind him is a skeleton. One of his followers is also a skeleton. A demon also holds up a banner on which is writing. |
| Dimensions |
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| Styles | |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | This block has only been partially engraved and therefore shows how the engraver William Harcourt Hooper (1834–1912) translated the photographed design into an appropriate syntax of lines. Designs could be transferred onto blocks in various ways: an original print could be wet and pressed onto the block to transfer some of the ink, a drawing or tracing could be pasted onto the block and cut through, or an artist could draw directly onto the block (see D.154-1906 in 514A/19/DR 14). Each of these methods of transfer involved destruction of the original design. Here, a photograph of the design was exposed onto a light sensitised block. Thomas Bolton developed the method in the mid-1860s. |
| Bibliographic reference | Victoria and Albert Museum, Department of Engraving, Illustration and Design, Accessions 1912, London, Printed for His Majesty’s Stationery Office 1913 |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | E.1294-1912 |
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| Record created | July 1, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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