Dido's Banquet, a fan, the leaf painted with Venus disguised as a huntress and sending Cupid, disguised as Aeneas's son, to pay his respects to the Queen at a banquet held in honour of the Trojans (Aen. 1:657-722), the border decorated with mother of pearl, the verso painted with Venus disguised as a huntress and a female figure, possibly Dido leaping into the sea, with a male figure either pushing or restraining her, a ship beyond, and to the left two female figures watching a burning ship, the mother of pearl sticks carved with two ships with Trojan warriors aboard, pierced and gilt - 11in. (28cm.), French, circa 1760 (two sticks and one guardstick repaired)

Details

Dido's Banquet, a fan, the leaf painted with Venus disguised as a huntress and sending Cupid, disguised as Aeneas's son, to pay his respects to the Queen at a banquet held in honour of the Trojans (Aen. 1:657-722), the border decorated with mother of pearl, the verso painted with Venus disguised as a huntress and a female figure, possibly Dido leaping into the sea, with a male figure either pushing or restraining her, a ship beyond, and to the left two female figures watching a burning ship, the mother of pearl sticks carved with two ships with Trojan warriors aboard, pierced and gilt - 11in. (28cm.), French, circa 1760 (two sticks and one guardstick repaired)
See Colour Plate on Front Cover

Lot Essay

The verso is probably an adaptation of Aen. 4: 642-705. Having failed to persuade Aeneas to stay, Dido asked her sister Anna to build a pyre in the courtyard of the palace pretending she was going to arrange a ritual burning of Aeneas's arms and their bridal bed. At the sight of the Trojan ships sailing away Dido threw herself onto the pyre and ran Aeneas's sword through her body.

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