Heilige Basilius de Grote als kluizenaar 1644

This etching by Christoffel van Sichem, a Dutch artist working in the 17th century, depicts Saint Basil the Great as a hermit. The print shows Saint Basil seated in a room, reading a book, with a skull and a lit candle on a table nearby. The use of such memento mori imagery served as a reminder of mortality and the importance of spiritual contemplation. This artwork, created in 1644, is a fine example of Sichem's engraving style and offers a glimpse into the devotional practices of the time. The etching is currently housed at the Rijksmuseum.