Roof van Proserpina
ca. 1788
Medium
etching
Dimensions
224; 194
About this artwork
Pluto ontvoert Proserpina in zijn zegewagen, getrokken door vier paarden. Een nimf in het water probeert hem tegen te houden. Heuvellandschap op de achtergrond.
Art Historical Context
In Jean-Louis Delignon's etching *Roof van Proserpina* (ca. 1788), we witness a dramatic retelling of a timeless myth from Ovid's *Metamorphoses*. The scene captures Pluto, god of the underworld, abducting the beautiful Proserpina in his triumphal chariot, drawn by four powerful horses. A desperate nymph emerges from the water, reaching out in vain to halt the abduction, while a rugged hilly landscape unfolds in the background. This moment symbolizes the forceful union that dooms Proserpina to half-yearly reigns over the underworld and earth, explaining the seasons in ancient lore. Created as...