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1 of 253523 objects
Crispijn de Passe the Elder (1564-1637)
Venus anoints Aeneas c.1600
Pen and brown ink with brown and grey wash, over traces of black chalk; indented for transfer | 7.6 x 12.9 cm (sheet of paper) | RCIN 914968
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A drawing of Venus amidst clouds on a chariot drawn by doves, anointing the head of Aeneas who is kneeling. Jupiter is visible in the upper right corner. Aeneas's ships are set on fire, lower left, while above, Venus riding in a chariot drawn by lions, blows a trumpet. There is a symbolic heron on the horizon (Book XIV, 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') -
Creator(s)
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Medium and techniques
Pen and brown ink with brown and grey wash, over traces of black chalk; indented for transfer
Measurements
7.6 x 12.9 cm (sheet of paper)
Other number(s)
RL 14968
