Lucie et Mélanie, cul-de-lampe (Baculard d'Arnaud, The Trials of Emotion vol1) - De Longueil after Eisen
Image series :
Notice précédente Notice n°6 sur 63 Notice suivante
Date :
1770
Type of image :
Gravure sur cuivre
Topic :
Storage Location :
RESERVE 8-BL-19038 (1)
Signed work
Description
Melanie entered a convent and took her vows to escape the Count d'Estival, whom she nevertheless loves. She spurned him in memory of her sister, who had married the Count before dying upon discovering he loved Melanie. But even as she acts to forget him for good, Melanie can't help thinking of him again. The cul-de-lampe illustrates a moment when, in spite of herself, Melanie portrays the Count who is continually on her mind.
A skull, visible on the right, recalls the vanity of human passions, and projects the tragic deaths of the characters, particularly that of the Count, who subsequently withers away in grief upon learning that he will not be able to marry Melanie.
History :
- Signed below the engraving on the left "Ch. Eisen inv.", on the right "De Longueil Sculp."
Textual Sources :
Technical Data
Notice #025480
Image editing :
Image web
Image Origin :
Copyright / Photographer :
Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France