Engraving reproduction of two young caledonian women arrested near the tomb of a warrior, painting by julie volpelière presented at the salon of 1814 (no. 960 of the booklet). Engraving reproduced in the hommage aux demoiselles of the year 1818, accompanied by the following comment:
“no. 3. Young caledonian women,
by miss volpélière. Two young caledonian or former scottish women waged war on the animals of the forests, according to the wild life formerly led by the proud inhabitants of their ancient homeland; armed with darts, bows and arrows, they dared to brave the most ferocious beasts. Their hunt leads them to a deserted place bristling with terrible rocks, and their eyes are struck by the appearance of a rustic tomb, raised at the bottom of arid, steep mountains, and roughly constructed of three enormous blocks of stone placed one on top of the other; the last is covered with an inscription which announces that an intrepid warrior, the glory of caledonia and the terror of enemies, has finally fallen under the sword of the terrible god of war, and that he sleeps under these heavy rocks where his shadow demands vengeance. The two huntresses sit in front of this monument, and one of them explains the inscription to her companion, plunged into a dark reverie. This painting, which does as much honor to the distinguished talents as to the feelings of mademoiselle volpelière, recalls the painting by the famous poussin, where we see a tomb contemplated by a shepherdess and a shepherd from arcadia. The latter, by showing the inscription, seems to be telling his young lover that the happiness of this world only lasts a short time. Poussin was born in andély in normandy, in the year 1594, to a noble but very poor family. He enjoys such a great reputation that one day when this artist came to fontainebleau, louis xiii sent his carriages to meet him, and went to the door of his room to receive him. Great kings have never disdained to protect great talents. ". Date: 1818.
Loading...
