Le Triomphe de la Mort
Basel: Mechel, 1780. Chrétien de Mechel.
c.1860–1880. Later Edition (Albumen Reproduction). Approx. 45 leaves. Basel: Chrétien de Mechel (after Hans Holbein).
Half calf over red pebbled cloth, raised bands, gilt title to spine, all edges gilt (t.e.g.). Light rubbing and toning; minor foxing to margins. Each plate with printed caption leaf; albumens clean and richly toned, mounted on stiff card. Plate 45 bound before Plate 44, as issued in some copies.
A striking 19th-century photographic reproduction of Le Triomphe de la Mort, after the original engravings by Hans Holbein the Younger, engraved by Chrétien (Christian) de Mechel of Basel. Each albumen print (approx. 14 × 18 cm to 18 × 19 cm) is mounted on card and accompanied by explanatory text. The final two plates are slightly smaller, completing the sequence of 45.
Produced during the Victorian revival of Renaissance moral imagery, this edition re-presents Holbein’s famed Dance of Death cycle with remarkable tonal depth and precision. The red half-calf binding and gilt spine suggest mid-century continental craftsmanship, while the t.e.g. finish and numbered mounts indicate a deluxe presentation - offering collectors both the visual drama of early photography and the moral gravitas of Renaissance print art.
A handsome and uncommon survival from the early era of photographic publishing, exemplifying 19th-century engagement with fine art reproduction. In store case 2.
Price: $1,000.00