Bernard Picart (1673-1733)
[Antique print, etching and engraving, 1733] Salamacis & Hermaphrodite unis en un seul corps (Salamacis and Hermaphroditus united in one body), published 1733.
From the ‘Tafereel of beschryving van den prachtigen tempel der zang-godinnen…’, also known as ‘Le Temple des Muses’ published in Amsterdam in 1733, containing histories drawn from Greek mythology, written by A.de la Barre de Beaumarchais with plates by Bernard Picart. The plates are all finely engraved and are composed with a central part dedicated to the illustration of the story and a larger one, framing the previous, inhabited with details inspired to the central plate. For the whole book see Booknr. 50936 [XXXIII, p. 89-90]
Salamacis was a nymph of a fountain. As her fountain was approached by Hermaphroditus she fell in love with the young man and asked her deities to let her be one with her loved one. Her wish was fulfilled but Hermaphroditus cursed the fountain: everyone else bathing in those waters would have suffered his same destiny.
Signed on the lower left corner: ‘B. Picart dir.’
Lettered in four languages on the bottom: ‘SALAMACIS & HERMAPHRODITE UNIS EN UN SEUL CORPS. / Salamacis and Hermaphroditus united in one body / Salamacis und Hermaphroditus werden bende nur ein Leib / Salamacis en Hermaphroditus in een lichaam vereenigt’. On the bottom of the engraved frame on the left: ‘B. Picart del. 1731’.
SKU: 59673
Engraving on fine laid paper; internal platemark: 258 x 172 mm; external plate: 356 x 253 mm; total: 486 x 310 mm. small damages on the lower border and some stains on the top and left borders, yet the engraved part is flawless. PLIT013
€ 242,00 (€ 200,00 ex. btw)