Le Char de Phébus

According to Greek mythology, Phebus presented himself and persuaded his father to allow him for one day to drive his chariot across the skies. The Hours yoked the team of four horses to the golden car, Dawn threw open the doors, and Phebus was off. Because he had no skill he was soon in trouble, and the climax came when he met the fearful Scorpion of the zodiac. He dropped the reins, the horses bolted and caused the earth to catch on fire. In the nick of time Jupiter, father of the gods, put a stop to his escapade with a thunderbolt which wrecked the chariot and sent Phebus hurtling down in flames into the River Eridanus.

Stylistically, the present work is closely related to Chagall's celebrated series of gouaches Les fables de la Fontaine of 1926-1927.

Sold with a photo-certificate from the Comité Marc Chagall dated Saint-Paul, le 7 Décembre 1994.