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Skeleton of Death showing the hourglass to an Advocate
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Skeleton of Death showing the hourglass to an Advocate
Skeleton of Death showing the hourglass to an Advocate, even as he is being paid off by a Judge in front of a wretched client. Handcoloured copperplate engraving by Wenceslaus Hollar from The Dance of Death by Hans Holbein, Coxhead, London, 1816
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Media ID 23194196
© Florilegius/Mary Evans
Advocate Bribe Corruption Hans Holbein Hollar Hourglass Judge Lawyer Skeleton Wenceslaus
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In this haunting hand-colored copperplate engraving by Wenceslaus Hollar, titled "Skeleton of Death showing the hourglass to an Advocate," the Grim Reaper, depicted as the Skeleton of Death, looms over an unsuspecting advocate, or lawyer, as he accepts a bribe from a corrupt judge. The hourglass held by Death serves as a stark reminder of the fleeting nature of time and the transience of worldly possessions and earthly pleasures. The image is taken from "The Dance of Death," a series of engravings by Hans Holbein the Elder, first published in Strasbourg in 1526 and later reissued in various forms throughout Europe. This particular version was published by Coxhead in London in 1816. The scene portrayed in the engraving is a commentary on the pervasive corruption and moral decay of the legal profession during the early modern period. The advocate, dressed in the robes of his office, is oblivious to the imminent approach of Death, who has come to claim him. The judge, also dressed in his judicial robes, is seen in the background, offering the bribe with a sly and calculating expression. The intricately detailed engraving, with its rich use of color and shading, conveys a sense of unease and foreboding, highlighting the moral decay and the transient nature of worldly possessions and power. The image serves as a powerful reminder of the inevitability of Death and the importance of living a virtuous and ethical life.
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