Ars moriendi

Lessing J. Rosenwald Collection (Library of Congress) · 1475 · [Germany, ca. 1475?] · 15 pictures

Ars moriendi is a German block book of about 1475, printed from woodcuts with hand colouring and intended as a devotional guide for the dying. Its pictures are hand-coloured woodcuts in simple outline, with green grounds, rose-pink draperies and ochre tones, showing a deathbed scene with angels and devils contesting the soul, a model for narrative panels and a study of medieval hand-colouring.

[germany.] · Block books · Death · Early works to 1800 · Germany · Incunabula · Specimens

Library of Congress, Rare Book and Special Collections Division · No known copyright restrictions · More from this library