Saint John the Baptist as a youth in the wilderness, holding a skull. Engraving by W. Ensom, 1832, after C. Cignani.

Published with descriptive poem 'St. John in the wilderness' by Letitia E. Landon: "Afar, he took a gloomy cave, / For his accustomed dwelling-place, / As dark, as silent as the grave, / As unfamiliar with man's face; / The stern and knotted trees grew round, / Blasted, and desolate, and grey, / And 'mid their sullen depth was found / A home for birds and beasts of prey. / Morning broke joyless, for the land / Knew no green grass, nor fragrant flower, / The barren rock, the burning sand, / Blessed not the sunshine, nor the shower. / Yet there the prophet dwelt alone, / Far from the city and the plain; / For him in vain their glory shone, / For him their beauty spread in vain. / He left his youth and life behind; / Each idol of the human heart, / Pleasures and vanities resigned, / Content to choose the better part. / Methinks, when hope is cold or weak, / And prayers seem but unwelcome tasks, / And worldly thoughts and feelings seek / To fill the hours religion asks; / If when the light of faith is dim, / The spirit would but ponder thus— / How much there was required of him, / How little is required of us! / All-Merciful, did we declare, / The glories which to Thee belong, / All life would pass in thankful prayer, / All breath in one triumphant song."