Thomas Rowlandson, Dance of Death, 1810s, Etching

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Etching realized by Thomas Rowlandson as frontispiece of "The English Dance of Death". Printed by J. Diggins and published by … Read more Etching realized by Thomas Rowlandson as frontispiece of "The English Dance of Death". Printed by J. Diggins and published by R. Ackermann's Repository of Arts. Hand-colored etching, depicting a crowned skeleton enthroned atop a terrestrial globe, holding a staff and surveying the world below. The globe is inscribed with continental names, while beneath it lie potent symbols of mortality and human vice, including bottles labelled Drugs, Opium, Arsenic, and Gunpowder, alongside an open book titled Death’s Dance and an hourglass marking the passage of time. The composition blends dark humor with moral and political satire, characteristic of early 19th-century graphic commentary. Executed with strong linear detail and heightened by original hand-coloring, the image presents a striking allegory on power, decay, and the universality of death. Both theatrical and unsettling, it reflects the period’s fascination with memento mori imagery and satirical critique. The sheet shows age toning and scattered foxing, with colors remaining lively. Overall in good condition for its age. This piece is attributed to the mentioned designer/maker. It has no attribution mark and no
official proof of authenticity,
however it is well documented in design history. I take full responsibility for any authenticity



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