“This intricate wood engraving, likely an illustration for Virgil's *Pastorals*, captures a moment of solitary movement within a stark landscape, inviting contemplation on the proverb it depicts.”
This small but powerful wood engraving, "A Rolling Stone is Ever Bare of Moss," is part of William Herbert's illustrations for The Pastorals of Virgil. Created in 1821, it demonstrates the artist's skill in capturing a narrative scene within a very compact space. While the Art Institute of Chicago attributes this work to William Herbert, 1st Earl of Pembroke, it's worth noting that other sources and art historical consensus typically credit William Blake for the iconic wood engravings for Virgil's Pastorals, also produced in 1821. Blake's series, known for its radical, almost abstract qualities, pushed the boundaries of wood engraving at the time. If this piece is indeed by Herbert, it would represent an interesting parallel or response to Blake's groundbreaking work, or perhaps an instance of misattribution in the museum's records. Regardless of the exact hand, the print invites close looking, typical of the detailed and often allegorical imagery found in book illustrations of the early 19th century.
- Date
- 1821
- Medium
- Wood engraving on off-white wove paper
- Location
- Art Institute of Chicago
- Dimensions
- Image/block: 3.3 × 7.6 cm (1 5/16 × 3 in.); Sheet: 5.3 × 9.2 cm (2 1/8 × 3 5/8 in.)
- Collection
- Prints and Drawings
- Culture
- England
- Credit line
- William McCallin McKee Memorial Endowment
What to Notice
Four details hide in plain sight. Here’s where to look.
The stark, almost abstract quality of the landscape
The lone figure's posture and implied movement
The texture and line work, characteristic of wood engraving
The contrast between light and shadow
Stand in front of it and listen
The full narration walks you through A Rolling Stone is Ever Bare of Moss, from The Pastorals of Virgil — the story behind it, the details most visitors miss, and why it matters. Free in the Art Whisper app.