Folly Steps Down from the Pulpit, marginal drawing by Hans Holbein the Younger, December 1515

Folly steps down from the pulpit, pen and ink marginal drawing in a copy of the praise of folly by desiderius erasmus. This is the last of 82 marginal drawings that include the first works of holbein to survive intact. He and his brother, ambrosius, drew them in the copy of the praise of folly owned by classical scholar oswald myconius, who planned to show the result to the author, his friend erasmus. Most of the sketches, including this one, are by hans holbein, whose style and left-handed hatching identify him from ambrosius. Here the figure of folly steps down from the pulpit at last, her arm rigid from gesturing. References buck, stephanie, hans holbein, cologne: könemann, 1999, isbn 3829025831, p. 10. Müller, christian; stephan kemperdick; maryan ainsworth; et al, hans holbein the younger: the basel years, 1515–1532, munich: prestel, 2006, isbn 9783791335803, pp. 146–57. Date: December 1515.