Dance of Death: The Bishop

1526

From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art

Dominant colour

Dance of Death: The Bishop 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 bishop in fancy robes walking with a long staff, surrounded by a crowd of skeletons. The skeletons dance around him, some holding hands or playing instruments, while sheep wander in the background. The sky is bright with sun rays, and the landscape looks rocky and uneven. The title *Der Bischof* (German for "The Bishop") hints this is part of a series called *Dance of Death*, where skeletons remind powerful people of their mortality. The artist used sharp lines and bold contrasts to make the scene stand out. Next, look up Renaissance to see how this style shaped art and culture.