French School 1700 - Alexander And Diogenes

FRENCH SCHOOL CIRCA 1700 Diogenes searching for the bones of Alexander's father
Gray wash over black pencil lines
13.5 x 23 cm - 20 x 29.5 cm
Small stains
Framed

Draughtsman from the Bon Boullogne or Noël Coypel generation. A very confidential subject in the history of Alexander (almost no other representation in art history).

It refers to an anecdote reported by Diogenes Laertius in his Lives and Doctrines of Illustrious Philosophers (Book VI, 46), and subsequently taken up by other ancient authors.

Here is the passage in substance:
One day, Alexander found Diogenes busy moving a pile of human bones. He asked him what he was doing. Diogenes replied: "I am looking for the bones of your father Philip, but I cannot distinguish them from those of the slaves."

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