Amidst ancient debris, animal skulls and half-dead trees sleeps the ancient philosopher Democritus of Abdera. Next to him are an oil lamp and a sky globe. He sits in the traditional posture of the personification of sleep and night: the arm bent over the head. With inscription taken from the opening words of an ode to Horace: Integer vitae scelerisque purus (Hor: Lib. I. Od: 22), which refers to a righteous walk in life, free from sins, The sleeping philosopher Democritus., print maker: Giovanni David, (mentioned on object), Giovanni David, (mentioned on object), publisher: Teodoro Viero, (

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Photo credit: © Penta Springs / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

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