John Milton 1786

This 1786 engraving by Caroline Watson depicts John Milton, a celebrated English poet known for works such as Paradise Lost. Milton's portrait is framed by an oval and rests on a pedestal adorned with figures from the Bible, a nod to his epic poem about Adam and Eve's expulsion from the Garden of Eden. Watson uses a stippling technique, creating a fine-grained and detailed image, which was popular among 18th-century printmakers. The engraving is part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection in New York City.