Arethusa Pursued By Alpheus, And Turned To A Fountain

48.5 x 32 cm (19.1 x 12.6 inches).
Arethusa Pursued By Alpheus, And Turned To A Fountain
This spectacular baroque engraving is from Bernard Picart's Le Temple Des Muses.
The engraving was made in 1733, is from the first edition and is an original antique. It has captions in French, English, German, and Dutch.
It is in very good condition for its age.
In Greek myth according to Ovid, Arethusa was a beautiful nymph. Alpheus was a river god. Cupid caused him to fall in love with her without her knowledge. Arethusa was surprised by Alpheus when bathing in a river. Goddess Artemis took pity upon her and changed her into a well, which flowed underground. Alpheus changed into a river. Their waters mixed and emerged as a fount near Syracuse in Sicily.