The Dance of Death: The Mendicant Friar; The Nun

1526

From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art

Dominant colour

The Dance of Death: The Mendicant Friar; The Nun is a 1526 by Hans Holbein the Younger, a Renaissance work, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.

Who painted this?: Hans Holbein the Younger
When & what style?: 1526 · Renaissance
Where can I see it?: Cleveland Museum of Art

About this work

This black-and-white woodcut shows a skeleton dancing with two robed figures—a monk and a nun. The skeleton’s bony hands grip their shoulders, pulling them into a twisted, jerky pose. The monk clutches a book, while the nun’s hands cover her face, her hood falling back to reveal her frightened expression. The image plays on fear of death, using the skeleton to remind us all that it spares no one. Notice how the artist carves deep shadows into the wood to make the bones pop against the robes. Look up chiaroscuro next to see how this technique works in other art.