J.L. Roget Old Man Reading

An original 1848 chalk drawing, J.L. Roget, Old Man Reading.

An atmospheric drawing, in black chalk with white chalk highlights, showing an old man reading a large book. Initialled JLR Nov. 2 1848, with the motto 'The world forgetting—by the world forgot.' An inscription on the verso reads 'Drawn in my room, at a club meeting, evening, by W. Roget [sic], son of P. Roget. Trinity College Cambridge, 184- HS Bryant. Subject chosen by me “The world forgetting, by the world forgot.” Pope.' The line that follows this one in Pope's poem is now more famous: 'Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind!' Bryant seems to have made a mistake with the artist's name, though—JL Roget (as per the initials) was John Lewis Roget, who was the son of Peter Mark Roget, creator of Roget's Thesaurus.