 |
| Balthasar Denner Portrait of an old woman ca. 1720-40 oil on copper Hermitage, Saint Petersburg |
"That elegant Part of Mankind, who are not immers'd in the animal Life, but employ themselves in the Operations of the Mind, may be divided into the learned and conversible. The Learned are such as have chosen for their Portion the higher and more difficult Operations of the Mind, which require Leisure and Solitude, and cannot be brought to Perfection, without long Preparation and severe Labour. The conversible World join to a sociable Disposition, and Taste of Pleasure, an Inclination to the easier and more gentle Exercises of the Understanding, to obvious Reflections on human Affairs, and the Duties of common Life, and to the Observation of Blemishes or Perfections of the particular Objects, that surround them. Such Subjects of Thought furnish not sufficient Employment in Solitude, but require the Company and Conversation of our Fellow-Creatures, to render them a proper Exercise for the Mind: And this brings Mankind together in Society, where every one displays his Thoughts and Observations in the best Manner he is able, and mutually gives and receives Information, as well as Pleasure."
– from the essay, Of Essay-Writing (1742) by David Hume
 |
| Hendrick van Steenwyck Italian Palace 1623 oil on copper Hermitage, Saint Petersburg |
 |
| Hendrick van Steenwyck Gothic church interior ca. 1610-20 oil on copper Hermitage, Saint Petersburg |
 |
| Hendrick van Steenwyck Liberation of St Peter from prison 1630s oil on copper Hermitage, Saint Petersburg |
 |
| Sassoferrato Holy Family before 1685 oil on copper Hermitage, Saint Petersburg |
 |
| Jean-Baptiste Lallemand Roman Forum 1750s oil on copper Hermitage, Saint Petersburg |
 |
| Willem van Mieris Cupid and Psyche before 1747 oil on copper Hermitage, Saint Petersburg |
 |
| Simon de Vos Magnanimity of Scipio Africanus 1641 oil on copper Hermitage, Saint Petersburg |
 |
| Simon de Vos Abigail bringing gifts to David 1641 oil on copper Hermitage, Saint Petersburg |
 |
| Simon de Vos Marcus Curtius leaping into the chasm 1641 oil on copper Hermitage, Saint Petersburg |
 |
| Simon de Vos Penitent Magdalene ca. 1630-35 oil on copper Hermitage, Saint Petersburg |
 |
| Anonymous painter working in the Netherlands St Catherine 18th century oil on copper Hermitage, Saint Petersburg |
 |
| Cristofano Allori Annunciation before 1621 oil on copper Hermitage, Saint Petersburg |
 |
| Paolo Veronese Adoration of the Magi 1570s oil on copper Hermitage, Saint Petersburg |
 |
| Jan Frans Beschey Assumption of the Virgin 18th century oil on copper Hermitage, Saint Petersburg |