Dance of Death: The Preacher

1526

From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art

Dominant colour

Dance of Death: The Preacher 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 preacher standing on a raised platform, gesturing as a crowd listens. Some people are sitting, others kneeling, all dressed in simple, old-fashioned clothes. Behind the preacher, a skeleton peeks out from a window, holding a cross. The scene looks like a church interior with tall columns and a carved panel on the wall. The skeleton is a key detail—it’s part of a series called *Dance of Death*, where skeletons remind people that death comes to everyone, no matter their status. The artist used sharp lines and deep shadows to create a dramatic, almost scary mood. Next, check out Hans Holbein the Younger to see more of his striking, detailed work.