2 Color Engravings After Moitte

Two colour engravings after Jean Guillaume Moitte(1746–1810), by Perdriaux and Ridé.                                                   The work of Moitte reflects the Neoclassical style that was popular between 1750 and 1830. Thanks to new archaeological discoveries, Moitte and other artists sought to reproduce Greek and Roman art as accurately as possible. Moitte was particularly admired for his finely executed bas-reliefs and for his talent as a draftsman. The engraving by Perdriaux depicts a scene taken from Ovid’s Metamorphoses, in which the river god Achelous and Theseus, the legendary king of Athens, discuss the power of the gods to change shape. On the right, Ceres, the goddess of fertility, advances carrying a cornucopia filled with the fruits of the autumn harvest, a symbol of transformation. The engraving by Ridé shows Ceres imploring  Jupiter to intervene to bring back her daughter Proserpina, who was abducted by Pluto, who, having fallen in love with her, had taken her to the Underworld. This scene is also taken from Ovid’s Metamorphoses. The engravings have been professionally conserved, are not glued, are freely mounted, and are protected by museum-quality glass in their original frames.