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Direct scan of object
Diogenes Looking for an Honest Man
Direct scan of object

Diogenes Looking for an Honest Man

Date1776
Publisher Carington Bowles (1724 - 1793)
OriginEngland, London
MediumMezzotint on laid paper
Credit LineMuseum Purchase
Object number1968-31
DescriptionLower margiin reads: "DIOGENES looking for an HONEST MAN./ 346/ Printed for Carington Bowles, at his Map & Print Warehouse, N.o 69 in S.t Pauls Church Yard, London. Publish'd as the Act directs [date erased]"
Label TextThis print depicts the philosopher Diogenes the cynic who in ancient times walked around Athens with a lantern in broad daylight searching for a man (in English this translates to "an honest man"). He is known for mocking the idea of reaching the Platonic idea of the perfect man by demonstrating the ridiculousness of a quest for human virtue and perfection. This print shows him in classical dress surrounded by individuals in contemporary 18th century dress. The young boy looking at him represents an incident where, according to accounts, while searching for "an honest man" he saw a young boy blush and he claimed that that is the complexion of virtue. Diognenes was the origin of the word cynic and he was given the nickname of dog because of his antisocial behavior.