A Hermit Praying, 1670, Gerrit Dou, Dutch, 1613-1675, 13 1/4 x 10 5/8 x 1/4 in. (33.66 x 26.99 x 0.64 cm) (panel)26 x 23 5/8 x 2 7/8 in. (66.04 x 60.01 x 7.3 cm) (framed), Oil on panel, Netherlands, 17th century, The hermit monk turns to nature as a refuge from the temptations of the world. In the silence of his cave, he holds a rosary and meditates on the holy text. His altar is decorated with objects of devotionthe crucifixstands as a symbol of salvation, the extinguished candle, skull, and hourglass are reminders of the brevity of human life, while the small straw basket which holds the hermit’s items for survival, suggest the virtues of frugality.