Sylvae Sacrae: Holy Forests — engravings after Maarten de Vos (1532-1603), published by the brothers Sadeler: Johann (1550-1600) and Rafael (1560-1628), Flemish

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What accounts for the ubiquitous interest in hermits in the eras we consider: the Northern (Flemish and Netherlandish) Renaissance ? Here are hermits depicted without the historical or hagiographical representation of a Paul of Thebes or Jerome or Anthony.
While obscure, the engraver has chosen, perhaps, to make them seem more so in their anachronistic or imagined clothing and settings outside cities suddenly isolated (under the rubric of wilderness but sanctified by the presence of hermits). Curious are the modes of each hermit's diurnal existence highlighted by an unusual detail such as skulls, crucifixes, and beads. A few examples: notice the exposed bones of a gravesite in front of Jacob, the menagerie around Blasius, the sickle of Martius, the deadly apparatus of Zoerardus to ward off sleep. Each of the images has its novelty.
Throuhout these centuries, we recall that hermits had become virtually extinct, but this wide and disparate set of engravings reminds us of their historical influence.

FIGURES REPRESENTED

1. Chariton
2. Marcus
3. Ephrem
4 Guidone
5. Fulgentius
6. Epiphanius
7. Jacob
8. Blasius
9. Quiriacus
10. Martius
11. Benedictus
12. Arsenius
13. Bavo
14. Caluppanus
15. Guthiacus
16. Martinianus
17. Friardus
18. Gallus
19. Amatus
20. Egidius
21. Ivan
22. Meinrad
23. Simeon
24. Zoerardus
25. Dominicus
26. Bruno
27. Guilielmus
28. Disibodus
29. Nicoleos