Crispijn de Passe the Elder (1564-1637)
Apollo and Neptune help build the walls of Troy for King Laomedon c.1600
Pen and brown ink with blue wash over traces of black chalk; indented for transfer | 7.3 x 12.9 cm (sheet of paper) | RCIN 914957
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A drawing of King Laomedon seated in the foreground beside Apollo and Neptune, both in human form, who cut stones for the walls of Troy, which occupies the background. To the right, the King's daughter, chained to rocks, is set free from a sea monster by Alcides (Book XI, 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 blue wash over traces of black chalk; indented for transfer
Measurements
7.3 x 12.9 cm (sheet of paper)
Other number(s)
RL 14957
