Dance of Death: The Abbot

1526

From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art

Dominant colour

Dance of Death: The Abbot 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 woodcut shows a skeleton dancing with a robed abbot. The abbot’s long robe billows around him as he holds a staff, while the skeleton’s bony fingers grip his arm. Trees and a small building loom in the background, but the focus is on their twisted, jerky movements. The title *Dance of Death* hints this is about life’s fleeting nature—death drags the powerful down. The skeleton’s grin and the abbot’s awkward pose make it clear: no one escapes. Next, check out Hans Holbein the Younger for more sharp, symbolic work.