John Haynes after John Hamilton Mortimer - Death ...

John Haynes after John Hamilton Mortimer
Death on a Pale Horse 1 January 1784
Etching,on paper, 710 x 510 mm
© Copyright the Trustees of The British Museum



The subject is from Revelation, Chapter 6, in which St John bears witness to a vision of the horsemen who will appear at the end of the world. The last of these is 'Death' riding on a 'pale horse'. Humanity is crushed under the hoves of his steed. This print reproduces a drawing by Mortimer. The design influenced later artists who depicted this scene - including West, Blake and de Loutherbourg, whose works can be seen nearby.
And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see.

And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.

The Revelation of St John the Divine,
Chapter 6, verses 1-8