Bilder Bernard de Montfaucon (1655–1741) – The Abduction of Proserpine – Engraving (1719)

Beskrivning

"Enlevement de Proserpine." This eighteenth-century engraving illustrates two distinct classical friezes depicting the myth of the abduction of Proserpine (Persephone) by Pluto (Hades). The upper register shows a sequence of female figures and a river god, likely representing the nymphs in the company of Proserpine and the divine witnesses to the event, with a prominent serpent-entwined altar. The lower register captures the moment of the abduction itself, featuring Pluto in his chariot drawn by four horses, with Mercury leading the way and a seated Jupiter presiding over the scene at the far right. The engraving is based on Roman sarcophagi reliefs as noted by the attribution to Admiranda Rom. Antiq. This plate was published in Paris as part of the series L'Antiquité expliquée et représentée en figures, a monumental visual encyclopedia of the ancient world.

Bernard de Montfaucon was a French Benedictine monk and a founding figure of modern archaeology and palaeography. He was a member of the Congregation of Saint Maur and dedicated his life to the scholarly examination of ancient texts and monuments. His multi-volume publication, L'Antiquité expliquée, was a landmark in the history of art and science, being the first work to use high-quality engravings to provide a comprehensive visual encyclopedia of antiquity. Montfaucon’s methodology of comparing physical artifacts with literary sources established a new standard for historical research and significantly influenced the development of Neoclassicism in Europe.

Artist or Maker: Bernard de Montfaucon.

Dimensions: Approximately 42 cm x 52 cm.

Medium: Engraving.

Date: 1719.

Condition Report:
This work is in good condition overall. There may be a few minor imperfections or fox or mottled marks to be expected with age. Please review the images carefully for condition details, and feel free to contact us with any questions or for a comprehensive condition report.