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| Anonymous artist Portrait of artist Jean-Baptiste-Siméon Chardin in old age ca. 1770-80 pastel drawing Museum of Fine Arts, Boston |
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| Francisco Goya Self-portrait bound into Los Caprichos 1797-98 etching and aquatint, colored by a 19th-century hand Museum of Fine Arts, Boston |
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| Hinrich Degener Temptation of St Anthony (Allegory of Patience) ca. 1615 wash drawing Morgan Library, New York |
Patience of an Angel
You can beat me, beat me! beat me, said the demon who
stood near the stoup of holy water, but you cannot destroy
me. I am the rebel angel but I am an angel and my face
that you so often mar bears at least the trace of one virtue:
patience. You can beat me! beat me! My time will come.
– Max Jacob, translated by Elizabeth Bishop (published in Poetry, May 1950)
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| Charles Le Brun Allegory in honor of Cardinal Richelieu 1641 drawing Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York |
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| Charles Le Brun The Relief of Candia before 1650 drawing Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York |
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| Claude Mellan David strangling the Lion 1631 engraving Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York |
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| François Perrier Michelangelo's statue of David in a niche 1633 etching Museum of Fine Arts, Boston |
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| Domenico Piola Two Putti with Flowers on a Ledge ca. 1650-1700 drawing National Gallery of Canada |
Hell is Graduated
When I was employed at Cooperative Fashions, in spite of
the dark, ugly old maid, I tried to steal some garters. I
was pursued down the superb staircases, not for the theft,
but for my laziness at work and for my hatred of the in-
nocent finery. Descend, you are pursued. The staircases
are less beautiful in the offices than in the part open to
the public. The staircases are less beautiful in the "service"
quarters than in the offices. The staircases are still less
beautiful in the cellar! But what can I say of the marsh
where I arrived? What can I say of the laughter? Of the
animals that brushed by me, and of the whisperings of
unseen creatures? Water gave place to fire, to fear, to un-
consciousness; when I came to myself I was in the hands
of silent and nameless surgeons.
– Max Jacob, translated by Elizabeth Bishop (published in Poetry, May 1950)
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| Domenico Piola Thetis entrusting the infant Achilles to the centaur Chiron ca. 1650-1700 drawing National Gallery of Canada |
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| Andrea Pozzo Study for the Altar of St Luigi Gonzaga in the Church of St Ignazio, Rome ca. 1697 drawing Philadelphia Museum of Art |
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| Jean Restout le jeune Seated Nude ca. 1740 drawing Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York |
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| George Stubbs Lion resting on a Rock 1788 engraving Tate Gallery |
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| Albrecht Dürer St John devouring the Book (from the Apocalypse) 1498 woodcut Museum of Fine Arts, Boston |
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| Albrecht Dürer Bearing of the Cross (from the Large Passion) 1498-99 hand-colored woodcut Museum of Fine Arts, Boston |