18th century French school
Céladon et Astrée united at last before the fountain of the Truth of Love
Watercolor on black chalk.
198 x 283 mm. – 7 13/16 x 11 1/8 in.
Inscribed: “Fontaine de Vérité D’amour” on the fountain.
Inspired by Honoré d’Urfé’s Astrée(1607), this scene seems to describe Celadon and Astrée finally united by the oracle of Love before the fountain of the Truth of Love, whose water reflects not the image of the body, but that of the spirit which, in loving, “transforms itself into the thing loved”.is transformed into the thing loved”, so that he who looks into it sees his mistress there, and if he is loved, he sees himself there, and if she loves someone else, it is the figure of that person who sees himself there (I, 3, p.93)
Condition report – Good condition.
Modern frame, copy of an antique.
