La matrone d'Ephese
Medium
etching and engraving
Classification
Department
CG-E
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Rosenwald Collection
Accession Number
1953.6.215
Art Historical Context
**La Matrone d'Éphèse** is a captivating print from 1793, created byavers Jean-Louis Delignon and Antoine-Jean Duclos after an original composition by the renowned Rococo master Jean-Honoré Frard. This etching and engraving depicts a scene from the ancient Roman tale in Petronius' *Satyricon*, where virtuous widow of Ephesus, overcome by grief, is tenderly consoled—and ultimately seduced—by a steadfast soldier guarding crucified bodies nearby. Fragonard's playful, sensual style infuses the image with Rococo elegance: swirling drapery, soft lighting, and expressive gestures that blend pathos wi...