Figures imploring a Priest on the Steps of a Temple

Close in handling to the drawings for the series of tapestries on the Histoire d'Artemisia and possibly related to the same commission, J. Ehrmann, Antoine Caron, Paris, 1986, pp. 57-78, illustrated. The initial program had 74 subjects, but not all were woven. Part of the commission went to Antoine Caron, of whom 44 drawings are known, most of which are in the Bibliothque Nationale, Paris, The Paris drawings, of a larger size, are drawn within decorative borders.
The story of Artemisia, Queen of Caria, who lived circa 355 B.C was an allegory of the life of Queen Catherine de'Medici, wife of King Henri II. The long poem, by the apothecary Nicolas Houel and dedicated to Queen, compares Queen Catherine to Artemisia, widow of Mausoleo, King Henri II, and mother of Lygdamis, King Charles IX. A drawing by Lerambert, probably also related to the story of Artemisia was sold in these Rooms, 30 January 1997, lot 108.