‘An Apparition’, 1790
Description
Mounted hand coloured etching and aquatint, entitled ‘AN APPARITION.’, designed and etched by Richard Newton, and published by William Holland in 1790.
ASt in a churchyard at night. A tall, grim and ghostly figure in shroud and tall cap stands by the grave being robbed by a grave robber. The grave-robber, with his pick and spade at his feet, by a skull and bones, holds up his lantern in horror at the ghostly figure.
In shock his round brimmed hat has fallen off and his hair is standing on end. It is not clear whether the grave robber is stealing artifacts or a corpse from the grave.