A Man of Learning

A bronze inkstand in the form of a bust of an 18th-century gentleman wearing a Tricorne hat surrounded by different books. One book is titled “Gradus ad Parnassum”, which means “steps to Parnassus”. The name “Parnassus” was used to describe the loftiest part of a mountain range in central Greece. The phrase has been used to refer to various books of instruction in which gradual progress is sought. Another title is “Rudimenta Linguae Latinae” – Rudiments of Latin. The title on the book behind the man is “Ridendo” which translates laughing.  The inkstand sits on a round black slate base.