Zenothémis, cul-de-lampe (Baculard d'Arnaud, The Trials of Emotion vol3) - Ponce after Eisen
Image series :
Notice précédente Notice n°36 sur 63 Notice suivante
Date :
1770
Type of image :
Gravure sur cuivre
Topic :
Storage Location :
RESERVE 8-BL-19038 (3)
Mentions in the image
Signed work
Work dated
Description
This cul-de-lampe illustrates the short story Zénothémis: an allegory of justice, blind to the identity of those who plead before it, weighs with one hand and slices with the other.
Above appears a hemistiche by Voltaire, which nuances this implacability: applying the law to the letter is no guarantee of being just. Conversely, Menecrates, in the short story, has broken the law only once, yielding to a surge of humanity that paradoxically proves more in keeping with the idea of justice. Ménécrate has in fact exonerated a criminal whose parents have warmly defended his cause.
History :
- Inscription above image: "Qui n'est que juste est dur. Voltaire."
Signed below: "c. Eisen inv.", right "n. ponce Sculp. 1773".
Textual Sources :
Technical Data
Notice #025492
Image editing :
Image web
Image Origin :
Copyright / Photographer :
Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France