It was a war that may have contributed to the dissolution of the French Monarchy, itself shortly to experience revolution and an outbreak of terror, pushing all Europe into a series of wars that led to a revival of French power under Napoleon and then its destruction at the battle of Waterloo at the hands of the British Army and supported by the British Navy. Despite the title, Holbein and Deuchar are more aligned with the memento mori tradition that the Dance of Death. Holbien's woodcuts and Deuchar's etchings are both designed to remind an audience that no matter how much power, authority, and wealth one may have, sooner or later death will come to take it all away. Less frequently, they also serve to remind the wretched that even wretchedness will someday end. Unless otherwise noted, all of the etcings measure 74x55mm and are printed on wove paper.
All etchings also show scattered foxing, mostly in the margins.
The actual etchings are much sharper than these scans. The Dance of Death . Young and old, rich and poor, all are invited to join in the festivites but none are allowed not to participate. Death has not yet made an appearance. Death begins the dance, offering musical accompaniment on a viola da gamba.