Triomphe de Pomone (Triumph of Pomona)
Original title: Triomphe de Pomone (Triumph of Pomona)
kurzbeschreibung
Charles Nicolas Cochin II made "Triumph of Pomona" in the 18th century as an etching with engraving. The Roman goddess of tree fruits appears here within an allegorical design crowded with fruit and plant ornament.
Description
Pomona sits on a plinth, her long robe adorned with flowers and fruit, a basket of fruit in her hand. Beside her stands a second figure, also carrying fruit. An elaborate frame of leaves, fruits and floral motifs surrounds the pair. Behind them a landscape opens up with trees, a house and a bridge, while below a fountain shaped like a face spouts water from its mouth. The layout feels symmetrical, the figures hold the centre, and the whole is kept in black and white with delicate linework.
Context
Cochin II ranks among the most important French draughtsmen and engravers of the 18th century, valued for the precision and richness of detail in his prints. Allegorical and mythological subjects were widespread in European art of the period, and Cochin often worked on commission for the French court, for an audience both aristocratic and learned. How exactly this print came about is not recorded; it takes its place within an oeuvre that frequently returns to mythological and decorative themes.
Impact
The even arrangement and calm flow of the lines give the sheet a balanced aesthetic. Rich ornament and the gently handled figures convey an elegant, courtly mood and draw the viewer into the allegorical world of antiquity.
Technique
Etching and engraving work together here to produce very precise, finely detailed linework. The black-and-white printing emphasises the graphic character of the sheet and makes clear how carefully Cochin handled both techniques, in keeping with the rest of his work.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)