A b&w engraving of a bearded man in a robe seated against a table, reading the book in his lap which he holds open with his left hand at the top of the spine. His right elbow rests on the table; his right fist props up his head. He is barefoot; his left foot rests on a book on the floor. To his left as the viewer sees the work is a female figure holding a compass or similar instrument against a paper on a block of wood or stone. To the man's right is another female figure holding a book under her right forearm; she holds up hwer left hand with the palm out. Hovering across them in the air above the human figures is a muscular, nearly naked Mercury holding a caduceus in his right hand.
A Bearded Author Seated Reading a Large Volume, 1680, by #SuorIsabellaPiccini (born #ElisabettaPiccini, Italian, 1644–1734), who died #otd (Apr 29). Held by the British Museum; source, Female Artists in History, facebook.com/female.artis... #womenartists #artherstory#nuntastic