A young artist, sitting among the ruins of mediaeval buildings and drawing a modern country house, holds up his pencil to stop the approaching Chronos, god of time; above, the winged figure of Fame trumpets his genius and awards him a wreath of honour for resisting time. Engraving, 1781.

Date:
Feb. 1 1781
Reference:
38939i
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view A young artist, sitting among the ruins of mediaeval buildings and drawing a modern country house, holds up his pencil to stop the approaching Chronos, god of time; above, the winged figure of Fame trumpets his genius and awards him a wreath of honour for resisting time. Engraving, 1781.

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Credit

A young artist, sitting among the ruins of mediaeval buildings and drawing a modern country house, holds up his pencil to stop the approaching Chronos, god of time; above, the winged figure of Fame trumpets his genius and awards him a wreath of honour for resisting time. Engraving, 1781. Wellcome Collection. Public Domain Mark. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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About this work

Description

A young man, sitting among Gothick ruins, sketching the ruins and, beyond them, a new neo-classical English country house. The allegory praises him for preserving, through his drawings, the relics of the past. The sketch that he is executing is supported by an allegorical figure carrying the ouroboros, a symbol of eternity, suggesting that his drawings will preserve what they depict for ever.

Publication/Creation

[London] (Pater-noster Row) : Fielding & Walker, Feb. 1 1781.

Physical description

1 print : engraving ; platemark 17.3 x 13.6 cm

Lettering

Frontispiece. His pencil turns off the scythe of time.

Reference

Wellcome Collection 38939i

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