Hesperus, God of Evening

~7.8 x 6 inches (19.8 x 15 cm).
Le Soir

This beautiful antique print of a statue was made in 1723 by Simon Thomassin in Paris.
It is from his work 'Recuel des Statue, Groupes, Fontaines, Termes, Vases et Autres Mangifique Ornamens du Chateau et Parc de Versailles' about the magnificent statues and fountains at the Palace of Versaille. King Louis XIV commissioned the work. Thomassin held the title Graveur du Roy (Engraver of the King).

This antique print was made by engraving on a copper printing plate and printing on handmade chain-linked paper.In Greek mythology, Hesperus is the Evening Star, the planet Venus in the evening. He is the son of the dawn goddess Eos (Roman Aurora) and is the half-brother of her other son, Phosphorus (also called Eosphorus; the "Morning Star"). Hesperus' Roman equivalent is Vesper. By one account Hesperus' father was Cephalus, a mortal, while Phosphorus' was the star god Astraios. Other sources, however, state that Hesperus was the brother of Atlas, and thus the son of Iapetus

It is in excellent condition considering it was made nearly 300 years ago.