A Hermit
Painting by Gerrit Dou
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A Hermit is an oil painting on oak panel by Dutch Golden Age painter Gerrit Dou, created c. 1661. The painting is in the Wallace Collection, in London.[1]
| A Hermit | |
|---|---|
| |
| Artist | Gerrit Dou |
| Year | c. 1661 |
| Medium | Oil on oak panel |
| Subject | Religious painting |
| Dimensions | 32.1 cm × 23.7 cm (12.6 in × 9.3 in) |
| Location | Wallace Collection, London |
It depicts a monkish figure, of very old age, surrounded by symbols of vanitas (skull, candle, hourglass), which serve as a reminder of the brevity of human life. He looks at the viewer, as he leafs through the Bible open in front of him. He is in a dark interior, illuminated only by the light of the candle.[2]
