Bilder Bernard de Montfaucon (1655–1741) – The Discovery of Mars and Venus – Engraving (1719)

Beskrivning

"Adultere de Mars et de Venus." This eighteenth-century engraving depicts a complex mythological scene based on a classical relief. The composition illustrates the moment the sun god Helios exposes the clandestine affair between Mars and Venus to the assembly of Olympian gods. The central figures are surrounded by various deities and attendants, including Cupid and Vulcan, within a crowded architectural and landscape setting. This plate was published in Paris as part of the series L'Antiquité expliquée et représentée en figures, a monumental work that categorized the surviving visual remnants of ancient Greek and Roman culture. 

Bernard de Montfaucon was a French Benedictine monk and a founding scholar in the fields of archaeology and palaeography. He was a prominent member of the Congregation of Saint Maur and focused his career on the systematic study of ancient monuments and manuscripts. His publication L'Antiquité expliquée served as a visual encyclopedia that transformed the study of history by providing accurate engravings of classical artifacts. Montfaucon’s work influenced generations of Enlightenment thinkers and established the methodological foundation for modern archaeological research.

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.