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The image displays an elderly man seated in a cave, holding a skull. He has long white hair and a beard, wearing flowing garments blending with the shadows. A lantern illuminates the scene, revealing more bones on a rock nearby. Two younger figures, dressed in simple tunics, are partially visible to the left. The cave opens into a dark, moonlit landscape with trees and clouds.
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The image displays an elderly man seated in a cave, holding a skull. He has long white hair and a beard, wearing flowing garments blending with the shadows. A lantern illuminates the scene, revealing more bones on a rock nearby. Two younger figures, dressed in simple tunics, are partially visible to the left. The cave opens into a dark, moonlit landscape with trees and clouds.

National Gallery of Art · Print

An Hermit

William Pether after Joseph Wright

Date
1770
Medium
mezzotint on laid paper
Dimensions
sheet: 58.1 x 44.9 cm (22 7/8 x 17 11/16 in.)
Classification
Print
Accession number
2001.118.38
Credit line
Paul Mellon Fund
Time span
1751 to 1775
Department
CG-E
Original NGA record Wikidata

Subjects and terms

  • British
  • Seated figure
  • mezzotint
  • Fire
  • Man
  • Figures
Provenance

Liechtenstein collection? Austrian private collection. (Christian Nebehay)1; Christopher Lennox-Boyd; (Nicholas Stogdon, Oxford); purchased 2001 by NGA. 1 Dealer notes

Inscription

lower left in plate: Josh. Wright Pinxit; lower center in plate: AN HERMIT. / Publish'd May 14th 1770. and Sold by Wm. Pether in Great Russell Street Bloomsby; lower right in plate: Wm Pether Fe

NGA object ID 119654. Collection metadata is reproduced under CC0. This work is included because its NGA published-image record is marked open access; visitors should recheck the source record before substantial reuse.