A Rolling Stone is Ever Bare of Moss, from The Pastorals of Virgil

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.