Clytia Changed Into A Turnesole (Heliotrope)

48.5 x 32 cm (19.1 x 12.6 inches).
Clytia Changed Into A Turnesole (Heliotrope)
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 mythology, Clytia was an ocean nymph who adored Apollo, yet he left her for another woman. According to Ovid, Clytia died of despair. Her body transformed into a turnesole flower (heliotrope). The head of the heliotrope turns the sun (Apollo), following the sun-god through the day. Picart shows Apollo in his chariot in the background.