TitleMythological beings.
NamesFourquemin, active 1835-1853 (Lithographer)Housselin, Alexis Louis Pierre (Engraver)
CollectionWonders: Images of the Ancient World
Mythology (General)
Dates / OriginDate Issued: 1844 - 1861
Library locationsThe Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs: Picture CollectionShelf locator: PC-WON MYT
TopicsSerpents -- MythologyCeres (Roman deity)Jupiter (Roman deity)Mercury (Roman deity)Venus (Roman deity)TorchesCaduceusPersephone (Greek deity)Aphrodite (Greek deity)Demeter (Greek deity)Triptolemus (Greek mythology)Hermes (Greek deity)Zeus (Greek deity)Proserpina (Roman deity)Chariots -- GreeceHecate (Greek deity)
GenresPrints
NotesContent: A "scaphoid" is a boat-like drinking vessel. A "paropsis" is a low-sided platter used for serving food. The creatures described as dragons in the caption look like big snakes with crests on their heads. Note the different possible identities assigned to some of the figures in the painting, the result of trying to identify them based on the attributes (clothing, hair, objects carried or held, etc.) illustrated by the artist.Content: Heavy foxing along left and right sides, bottom and center fold of picture. Written below image: "Jupiter sits on Olympus [,] an eagle mounted on his sceptre, and looks at Ceres and Aphrodite, or Proserpine and one of the seasons, holding ivy. Mercury ... holds his caduceus. Two flowers in the form of stars are above. Triptolemus in his winged chariot drawn by two dragons holds his sceptre and wheat. Ceres presents wheat to her protege. She holds a torch ending with crossed pieces that form a circle when lighted. Hecate holds a torch. Proserpine holds a scaphoid or paropsis to feed the dragon. ... Poniatowski collection." Content: Triptolemus was a "culture hero" (the mythical inventor of a useful art or skill) who taught early people about the basics of agriculture and civilization. In this picture, major deities are present with him, showing his importance. Snakes, since they lived in the ground, were symbols of knowledge of the secrets of the Earth. Source note: Elite des monuments céramographiques : matériaux pour l''histoire des religions et des moeurs de l''antiquité. (Paris : Leleux, 1844-1861) Lenormant, Charles (1802-1859), Author.
Physical DescriptionLithographsExtent: 1 print : b ; 34.5 x 50 cm.
Type of ResourceStill image
IdentifiersUniversal Unique Identifier (UUID): 924e0e50-c5be-012f-90e7-58d385a7bc34
Rights StatementThe New York Public Library believes that this item is in the public domain under the laws of the United States, but did not make a determination as to its copyright status under the copyright laws of other countries. This item may not be in the public domain under the laws of other countries. Though not required, if you want to credit us as the source, please use the following statement, "From The New York Public Library," and provide a link back to the item on our Digital Collections site. Doing so helps us track how our collection is used and helps justify freely releasing even more content in the future.
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