Dance of Death: The Coat of Arms of Death

1526

From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art

Dominant colour

Dance of Death: The Coat of Arms of Death 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 two figures—one man, one woman—dressed in old-fashioned robes. Between them is a strange coat of arms: a crown, a skull, and a lantern. The sky is dotted with puffy clouds, and the figures look like they’re part of a strange ceremony. The title at the top, *"Die wapen des Thots"* (a play on "Death"), hints this is about the idea of death itself, not just a family crest. The skull in the center is a classic symbol for mortality, but here it’s mixed with fancy heraldry. Next, look up Renaissance to see how artists used symbols like this to make people think.