Erysichthon cutting down the sacred tree of Ceres c.1600
Pen and brown ink with brownish-grey wash, over traces of black chalk; indented for transfer | 7.5 x 13.3 cm (sheet of paper) | RCIN 914913
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A drawing of Erysichthon, in the grove of Ceres, about to chop the tree with an axe. He is accomapnied by two protesting slaves, while a third lies dead, felled by his master's axe. In sky to the right, a mountain nymph approaches in Ceres' chariot pulled by winged dragons on clouds. In the left background the figure of Famine is seated on the ground (from Book VIII, Ovid's Metamorphoses). From one of two 18th century albums of drawings, which, with the exception of four (W&C 134-7), were all preparatory studies for an edition of illustrations to Ovid's Metamorphoses. They were engraved in reverse by the artist, and were accompanied by distichs at the bottom of each plate. The first edition was published in Cologne in 1602, and the second in 1607.
Provenance
Possibly Zaccaria Sagredo (d. 1729); from whose heirs bought by Joseph Smith,1752; from whom bought by George III, 1762; first recorded in a Royal Collection inventory of c.1810 (Inv. A, p.150: 'Designs from Ovid's Metamorphoses. Pen & Ink? by
2 vols. obl: 4to. Vol I - 41 pages. Vol: 2 - 41. pages') -
Medium and techniques
Pen and brown ink with brownish-grey wash, over traces of black chalk; indented for transfer
Measurements
7.5 x 13.3 cm (sheet of paper)
Object type(s)
Other number(s)
RL 14913