The Elderly Silenus
1650s
Medium
etching with engraving on laid paper
Dimensions
plate: 22.5 x 16.2 cm (8 7/8 x 6 3/8 in.) sheet: 38.5 x 26.8 cm (15 3/16 x 10 9/16 in.)
Classification
Portfolio
Department
CG-E
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Ailsa Mellon Bruce Fund
Accession Number
2005.127.4
Art Historical Context
Nicolas Chapron's *The Elderly Silenus*, created in the 1650s, captures the mythical companion of Dionysus—a jovial, aged satyr known for his revelry and wisdom in Greek lore. This etching with engraving on laid paper, measuring a modest plate size of 22.5 x 16.2 cm, exemplifies the French artist's skill in translating classical mythology into intimate print form during the Baroque era. Chapron, a prominent 17th-century engraver, often drew from antique sources, infusing his works with a lively sense of character and movement that would have delighted collectors of the time. The mixed techniq...