This rare and early engraving is from Matthaus Merian's "La danse des morts .. Todten-Tanz, wie derselbe in der löbl. u. Welt-berühmten Stadt Basel .. zu sehen ist" or "The Dance of the Dead... The Dance of Death, as it can be seen in the laudable and world-famous city of Basel". This engraving was published in Basel by J. R. Imhof in 1756 (though title dated 1744). The engravings were done by A. Chovin after the originals by Merian.

Merian first rendered the 'Dance of Death' mural in 1616, just after Emanuel Bock's restoration. He published the most complete and reliable representation of the 'Dance of Death.' He viewed the mural as "'a mirror of human existence' in which people should recognize themselves in their transience and the resulting demand for a meaningful, God-devoted Christian life." (exhibition catalogue: Dances of Death of the HAB)

Matthaeus Merian (1593-1650) was part of an exceptional artistic family. He was an artist and engraver himself that was born in Switzerland, and received training in engraving in Zurich, Nancy, Paris, and Strasbourg. He settled in Frankfurt where he worked for Johann Theodor de Bry, another accomplished publisher, and married his daughter, Maria Magdelena de Bry. He was the father of Matthaeus the Younger and the celebrated naturalist and artist, Maria Sibylla Merian. He took over De Bry's published house upon his death in 1623, and became particularly noted for his town views due to their artistry and accuracy.

  • Dimensions: ~ 6 1/8" by 8 1/8"
  • Literature: La danse des morts .. OR Todten-Tanz, wie derselbe in der löbl. u. Welt-berühmten Stadt Basel .. zu sehen ist OR The Dance of the Dead... The Dance of Death, as it can be seen in the laudable and world-famous city of Basel
  • Medium: Engraving with Professional Hand-coloring
  • Circa: 1744
  • Condition: The work is in very good to excellent condition overall. There may be a few minor imperfections or faint marks to be expected with age. Please review the image carefully for condition and contact us with any questions.

Accepted Forms of Payment:

ACH, American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Paypal, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

Shipping is handled within 1 business days of completed payment. If you have specific shipping requests or address changes, please contact us before completing payment so we are aware and can adjust the invoice if necessary. Shipping is billed directly after the sale. We typically ship via USPS, FedEx, or UPS on domestic shipments and with USPS, FedEx Connect, or UPS for international shipments. We calculate based on the total package weight and destination. All shipments are insured, though to provide this some services may be required when shipping outside of the United States. We're glad to provide quotes and options of services.

The buyer is responsible for paying the customs fees, duties, import taxes, and any related charges. Customs can cause delays in arrival of your shipment, which the seller has no control over. Please consider these charges and delays when making your purchase. If you need specific wording for customs, please also contact before payment as each country has different rules and we will try to accommodate when possible.

by Trillium Antique Prints & Rare Books
June 6, 2026 9:00 AM CDT
115 Hampsted Lane
Franklin, TN, US 37069

Trillium Antique Prints & Rare Books

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 15% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $5
$100 $299 $10
$300 $699 $25
$700 + $50