The Nymph Echo Changed Into Sound

48.5 x 32 cm (19.1 x 12.6 inches).
The Nymph Echo Changed Into Sound
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, Echo was a beautiful nymph. Ovid tells of Hera and the jealousy she felt over her husband Zeus' affairs. Whenever she was about to catch him, Echo distracted her with conversations. When Hera realized the truth, she cursed Echo. From then on, the talkative nymph could only repeat the last spoken words of another person. This is the origin of the word "echo". When Echo met Narcissus and fell in love with him, she was unable to tell him how she felt and was forced to watch him as he fell in love with his own reflection. Echo died of a broken heart. All that remained was her voice, an echo. In this engraving by Bernard Picart, Echo repeats the words of Narcissus, who is praising his reflection in water.