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Visiting the sick: a grieving woman bends over a praying patient. Tinted aquatint by F.C. Lewis, 1831, after J. Flaxman.

People crowd around a dying person's bed in grief while final rites are being read. Stipple engraving by N. Schiavonetti, 1812, after R. Westall.

A dying man in bed being read the last rites. Lithograph by F. Piloty after L. Bramer.

Antiochus IV of Syria, sick and injured by a fall from his chariot, dictates his will as surgeons bandage his leg. Etching by N. Hallé, 1738.

Isaac fooled into blessing Jacob with Rebekah present, while Esau hunts venison. Woodcut attributed to C. van Sichem the elder.

Soldiers standing over a robber's death-bed. Line engraving by F.W. Topham after himself.

Eudamidas dictating his will on his deathbed, leaving the care of his mother and daughter to two friends. Drawing by A.-Ch. Coumeau or Courneau, 1802-1804, after N. Poussin.

A dying man making his will to lawyers while a relative cries. Line engraving.

Eudamidas dictating his will on his deathbed, leaving the care of his mother and daughter to two friends. Engraving by F. Bartolozzi, 1765, after N. Poussin.

A man suffering from dropsy dictating his will while a physician takes his pulse, he is surrounded by his wife and friends. Engraving.

Truth brought to light, or, The last words of a dying-man : being the speech of William Dillon Esquire, executed the twenty fifth of February, 1662, for the death of J. Web, lately killed in a frey in Long-Acre.

World War II: a soldier refusing to use anti-mosquito cream: they are his last words, as he dies of malaria. Colour lithograph by Stacey Hopper, ca. 1944.

A collection of dying speeches of all those people call'd traytors, Executed in this reign, from Colonel Henry Oxburgh, to the late Mr. James Shepheard. To which is Added, Some of the speeches left by the like Sort of People Executed in Former Times. By comparing which, it will appear that it has been the Practice of most Times, for Men to Justify their own Conduct on all Occasions, even to the Last.

Fair warnings to a careless world, or, the serious practice of religion recommended by the admonitions of dying men, And the Sentiments of all People in their most serious Hours: And other Testimonies of an extraordinary Nature. By Josiah Woodward, D.D. To which is added, Serious advice to sick person by Archbishop Tillotson. As also a prospect of death: A Pindarique Essay. With suitable Cuts.

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A man suffering from dropsy dictating his will while a physician takes his pulse, he is surrounded by his wife and friends. Engraving.

Truth brought to light, or, The last words of a dying-man : being the speech of William Dillon Esquire, executed the twenty fifth of February, 1662, for the death of J. Web, lately killed in a frey in Long-Acre.

World War II: a soldier refusing to use anti-mosquito cream: they are his last words, as he dies of malaria. Colour lithograph by Stacey Hopper, ca. 1944.