Cygnus Transformed To A Swan And Phaeton's Sisters Into Poplars

48.5 x 32 cm (19.1 x 12.6 inches).
Cygnus Transformed To A Swan And Phaeton's Sisters Into Poplars
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, when Zeus destroyed Phaeton's chariot his body fell into the River Eridanus. Cygnus, son of Apollo, was Phaeton's close friend. He mourned the loss of Phaeton so greatly that Apollo changed Cygnus into a swan and placed him in the constellations. Phaeton's sisters, the Heliads, mourned his death and were turned into poplar trees. Their tears became amber which was gathered on the banks of the river.