Dance of Death: The Advocate

1526

From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art

Dominant colour

Dance of Death: The Advocate 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 image depicts a somber scene, with a skeleton standing beside a man in a long robe and hat. The skeleton grasps the man's right hand, while the man holds a sword in his left. The man appears to be an advocate, as indicated by the title "Dance of Death: The Advocate." The skeleton's presence suggests that death is inevitable, and the advocate's profession is no exception. The image conveys a sense of mortality and the transience of human life. If you're interested in exploring more artworks from the Renaissance period, you might want to look into the movement itself.