Of Corpses, Constables and Kings: The Danse Macabre in Late Medieval and Renaissance Culture

Abstract

The origins of the danse macabre, or Dance of Death, are still obscure, but the popularity of this theme in the late Middle Ages and beyond is undeniable. From the first half of the 15th century, it spread rapidly through European art, literature and drama. Visual examples are found in murals, stained-glass windows, illuminated manuscripts, early printed books, and sculpture. It continued to enjoy great popularity amongst artists and patrons long after the medieval period. Perhaps the most famous danse macabre is the series of woodcuts by Hans Holbein the Younger, published in 1538, inspired by medieval examples but characterised very much by a Renaissance approach. Centuries later the danse macabre inspired composers such as Franz Schubert, Franz Liszt and Camille Saint-Saëns, the film director Ingmar Bergman, and even the animator Walt Disney.