The English dance of death, first volume, Plate 24: The masquerade

Rowlandson, Thomas, 1756-1827 · July 1, 1815

A masked ball is represented at its height, gaily attended, and held in the Pantheon or some similar building. A dance is proceeding ; the most diversified scenes meet the eye on all sides, and Rowlandson has given full play to his humorous inventive faculties. In the front of the picture the crowd of merrymakers, all unthinking and unprepared, are horrified to discover a new turn abruptly given to the travesty ; the tall figure of Death has suddenly cast away his disguising domino, and holding aside a demoniac mask, is revealing to the terrified spectators the actual figure of the skeleton-destroyer, armed with his dart, and in grim earnest to strike.