Two Friars of the Order of Saint Anthony 1766

This mezzotint, "Two Friars of the Order of St. Anthony" by Jonathan Spilsbury, was created in 1766. The piece depicts two friars in profile, one slightly behind the other, as they read from a book. The friars are dressed in their traditional habits, and their faces are rendered with striking detail. The work exemplifies Spilsbury's mastery of the mezzotint technique, which allows for subtle gradations of light and shadow. The print is part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection.